Chapter 18

By the time the mother charter reached the Irish club house, Isla felt like she could sleep for a week, jumping out of the van she smiled weakly as Jax sought her out, slinging an arm round her shoulders.

The flight had been long and uncomfortable, the journey there; exhausting and with an interruption from the Irish police services, the young woman wondered what other obstacles there would be to face before Abel was back in her arms.

Looking round at the men all laughing and hugging their Irish brothers, Isla noticed Gemma standing still staring at two other women across the compound. A slim blonde woman, and her auburn haired daughter watching the scene in front of them.

"Who's that woman." Trinity Ashby was quick to spot the cold look the matriarch was giving them as her and her mother made their way slowly across to the group,

"Gemma Teller," Maureen took a minute to regain her composure, she could believe the queen had made the trip as well.

When Gemma started walking towards the pair, Clay, Jax and Isla followed suit.

"That's Jax?" Trinity's eyes raked the blonde man as he came closer, it was obvious she liked what she saw

"Aye has to be" Maureen covered her mouth for a moment, there was so much trinity needed to know still

"And who's that?" She nodded to Isla who Maureen didn't recognise

"Well, welcome" Maureen rubbed her palms together nervously as Gemma stopped infringe of her, the stoic look on her face never slipping. Without saying a word Maureen started introducing herself and shaking hands, first with Clay then Jax.

"And this is Isla," Clay gave her a small smile as he introduced her "Family of Sam Crow." Isla was so tired she could just about manage a nod and a smile to the two women.

"Yeah Isles is with me" Jax told them, giving her shoulders a quick squeeze.

This little reassurance made Isla feel slightly better, it all still didn't really seam real to her, but she didn't miss the slightly bitter look that passed Trinity's features although it was so quick she briefly wondered if she'd imagined it.

"Go on, go watch the register" Maureen murmured to her daughter who nodded a little sullenly.

"Glad you're here," her sudden enthusiasm was astounding "I'll see you later" as she spoke her eyes seemed to be focused on Jax, this Isla knew she hadn't imagined but she didn't actually care. Isla watched as trinity walked away, oblivious to the continuous chatter around her until she heard Gemma say "where's my grandson?"

Maureen nodded with understanding, "come on upstairs, we'll have a cup of tea"

"I don't want any goddamn tea" Gemma's words mirrored Isla's thoughts but it was obvious Maureen could hold her own

"This is my home Gemma, a wee bit of respect would go a long way" this caught the queen off guard, back home no one would dare talk to her last me that.

"You got coffee?" She finally asked and the Ashby woman nodded leading them all back into her small little flat above the shop.

Eventually the group were settled, Isla was sandwiched in between Jax and Gemma on the sofa, whilst Clay took one arm chair and Maureen the other. She sipped the steaming cup of coffee in her hand, deciding it was bitter but would have to do for the time being.

"Cam my bought the baby to me" Maureen explained " he knew he was in deep shit with the club and the army. Set a meeting with my brother."

"Wanted a pass from the priest?" Clay grumbled knowing what clammy Hayes was trying do

"Aye, he didn't get one" Maureen looked rueful but Isla was glad. The man who'd taken one of the most precious things in the world to her got exactly what he deserved she felt "after than Kellan took Abel to keep him safe."

"Then let's go talk to Kellan!" Jax interjected the venom in his voice obvious

"No," Maureen told him in a gentle but firm voice "he knows where you are. He'll find you"

"So we just wait?" Isla didn't even realise she had spoken until she noticed everyone staring at her

"Aye, your questions will be answered soon enough." Maureen looked round the group her eyes settling in Isla who could feel her own eyes becoming damp at the thought of yet again sitting around doing nothing. " look I'm sorry this has happened to you, I can't imagine the pain you must be feeling" no one said a word as eyes glanced round the room, it was too much for Isla; she pushed herself out the chair and headed for the kitchen, leaving through the back door and stopping at the top of the fire escape, leaning on the rails she looked out across the compound, catching the gaze of the Scotsman down below.

Chibs frowned looking up at Isla; they had to find this baby and soon, especially for her. Since returning to Charming, Chibs had watched Isla blossom and grow and now she had been reduced back to the shell of the woman she was when they'd first found her on the dirty roadside.

When Jax appeared out the door and pulled Isla into an embrace, he looked away. This was not for his eyes

SOASOASOASOA

Church was out and kerrianne and Fiona had shown up at the lot. Isla stood behind Jax as they all talked, her hand on his should and probably her fifth or sixth cup of coffee in the other hand.

"You're Emily's girl aren't ya?" Fiona asked, her dark eyes boring into Isla who nodded

"I'm so sorry for everything that you've been through and for ya ma" there was those words again so Isla just nodded and offered a small smile for the Irish woman's kind gestures "I have no idea why jimmy lied though" Fi addressed the rest of the group again "I'm not privy to his plans, he doesn't trust me anymore" she looked round to chibs who was sat behind her with his hand on her shoulder.

"Do you at least know what he's been up to since her got back?" The Scot asked causing his wife to laugh

"Recruiting, he's at his bar in Newry pretty much day and night."

"What about O'Neill?" Jax asked absently stroking Isla's hand "he on jimmys permanent payroll?"

"Not that I know of, but like I said last few months I've been in the dark" she sighed and looked round, focusing on Gemma "sorry I have nothing that helps"

"It's okay, thank you"

The door opened and one of Kellan a goons came back in with kerrianne

"Start wrapping it up fi, need to get back" He was so blunt but Fiona nodded standing up to go and stand beside her daughter "Kellan what's us to stay at the rectory" she explained to chibs "its like a bloody fortress" he watched his wife wistfully and Isla recognised the useless look on his face all too well

"Jimmy really gunna try and hurt us ma?" Kerrianne asked timidly and Isla felt sorry for the girl, she hadn't been exposed to much of this life so she was probably terrified

"Hey!" Chibs stood up to go to her "no ones ever gunna hurt my baby, I'll make sure of it" He was so fierce it bought a genuine smile to the blondes lips. Eventually it was decided between the sons they had enough muscle to protect fi and kerrianne for at least one night so they would be staying to spend some more time with family.

Eventually the Irish girls started filling in to fill the fridge with more beers for the party tonight.

"Isles why don't you go take a nap, you look dead on your feet" Isla looked down to meet Jax piercing blue eyes

"I feel like a zombie" she'd spoken so little her voice was all croaky and it made them both laugh for a moment.

"Go on then, I'll be there soon." Isla nodded and headed down to the room she and Jax had been given, despite all the coffee she'd drank that day she was asleep before her head even hit the pillow. Not bothered about getting changed Isla had just kicked her shoes off and flopped down on the bed, falling into a restless sleep dreaming of Abel like she did every other time she slept.

After finishing up his conversation with Gemma Jax also traipsed down to the room, he pushed the door too but didn't close it completely and just lay down on the bed beside Isla, even after all the last 72 hours had bought it still calmed him t feel her close to him and listen the ne'er s early breathing. He must have been laying there no longer than 20 minutes before Trinity came and poked her head in the door, holding a pile of clean laundry sheets in her hands

"Hi" she whispered to him noticing Isla sleeping soundly "my ma doesn't trust this place to lay out clean sheets" she whispered and put the pile down on the side for the couple

"Good to know, thanks " Jax whispered and carefully got up from the bed, trying not to disturb the sleeping blonde before tip toed out to the corridor with trinity close on his heels

"Gunna be a rough one isn't it?" Trinity asked her eyes focused on the gun Jax had left on the dresser and Jax shrugged suddenly feeling incredibly tired

"I don't know." He muttered and sat down against net the wall lighting up a cigarette, trinity watched him and then sat down beside him pulling one of her own chair out

"I'm sorry about your son" she murmured after taking a drag, "wasn't here when my uncle showed up, ma didn't wanna tell me"

Jax snorted "can you blame her?" He asked and watched as annoyance flashed across her face "how old are you?"

Trinity frowned before answering "22"

Just a fuckin' kid Jax thought to himself

"Didn't realise your charter bought women with ya" trinity muttered cautiously putting out feelers

"Gemma and Isla? What do you mean?"

"Well I know your ma is Clay's old lady but I've never seen a sweet butt travel around"

Forgetting himself for a moment Jax snarled at the girl

"Isla isn't a sweet butt, she's my old lady"

Ah trinity knew at the moment she'd fucked whatever chances she might have had with the prince of Sam crow

"Oh sorry, didn't see a crow" she stared at her hands for a moment

"Yeah well it's a new thing. Surely you e got stuff to be doing as well?" Trinity nodded, she knew where she wasn't wanted.

"See ya round Jackson" he mock saluted the girl before pulling himself up and heading back into the bedroom, clicking the door shut behind him

"Where have you been?" Isla grumbled rolling into him as he got back into the bed.

"Just getting clean linen Isles, go back to sleep" he stared at the ceiling for a moment before looking down at her, meeting her own blue eyes with his own.

"I heard you Jax" she whispered "you said I was your old lady"

Jax smirked for a moment

"Were you eavesdropping Lawson?" She smacked his chest indignantly

"No Teller I was not! But you shouldn't say that shit unless you mean it"

Jax sighed and pulled her closer

"Isla, I love you; think I have from the minute I saw you in that hospital. Losing Abel like this" he shrugged "I know what's important and I can't lose you too. You're everything I want darlin' you and Abel are all I need—" he broke off as she leaned up, pressing her lips to his. That was all she'd ever wanted to hear from him.

" I love you too" she mumbled between feverish kisses, her hands running up his chest underneath his shirt, Jax moved his arm round her and pulled her slender frame closer, her kisses were electrifying and He knew then he'd made the right choice.

"Jax" The way Isla mewed his name, he knew what she wanted.

"Isla are you sure?" She nodded; he didn't need telling twice, lifting her shirt his eyes roamed her body hungrily, kissing a line down her neck and along her collarbone, being sure to kiss every scar across her chest and abdomen all the way to the line of her jeans. Isla moaned softly she needed more, those lips on her navel and rough hands roaming her body were her only distraction at that precise moment in time and she welcomed it.

"Wait but i don't have a crow?" Isla looked concerned and Jax laughed

"soon Isles"

SOASOASOASOA

Somewhere not too far away a priest held a baby gently in his arms, the catholic couple before him smiled with tears in their eyes, they were getting their baby and finally they could be a real family.

"God bless you all," father Ashby murmured as he signed a cross on the child's head and handed him over to his new mother, watching the couple leave in their giddiness from the window he nodded to himself

"Make something of yourself Abel Teller"

A/N: I'm baaaaaaackkkkkk. I know it's been a year and I know I need to update more often, I do plan to update both my stories over the next week, hopefully with a couple of chapters each. From here on I don't intend to stick to the story line much but I hope you all enjoy it and I know this chapter isn't much so apologies. Not sure how regular the updates will be but they will come. Fully intend to finish both these stories. For those that are still here thank you always

L x