Author's Note: WOW! That is all I can say! I did not expect to get that many views and such positive feedback on this. I am shocked. Thank you all so much. Disclaimer: I own nothing, except this story line and Scarlett and her family.
Ex-Princess of Anarchy
Scarlett and her mother crossed the front lawn to Gemma's front door. Scarlett was about to knock when she heard the familiar sound of motorcycles and smirked. She continued to face the door as her mom turned around and walked towards the men. Scarlett stood there listening as she heard all the men greet her mother and ask about her father. Then she heard nothing but silence. Scarlett turned around and looked at them all. They all stared at her.
"What is wrong with you all you look like you've seen a ghost?" Clay's voice came from behind the men.
"Not a Ghost, just someone none of us thought we would ever see again," Bobby's voice responded.
Clay made his way through the group and stopped dead, staring at Scarlett.
"See, Brother. You had the same reaction," Chibs said.
"Well, are you all going to just stand there and gawk at me or are you going to come and hug me?" Scarlett said after a few moments of silence. They all started laughing.
"What is going on out here?" Gemma asked appearing in the doorway.
"O, just a little family reunion, Gemma. Too bad none of our boys know how to act when they see someone that has been gone for years," Scarlett said turning to face her. Gemma could see there was a little bit of hurt in her eyes.
"Why don't you and your mom go inside and relax. Dinner will be ready soon and I want to have a chat with the boys," Gemma said gesturing inside. As if cued Scarlett walked into the house with her mother behind her and Gemma closed the door. She knew the men were about to get a talk. It was bad enough that she was only back in Charming because her father was in the hospital. The last thing she needed is for the club to pretend like she was nothing to them.
Scarlett stood by the door and tried to make out what Gemma was saying to them. She made out a few lines here and there but nothing that made sense. She heard the sound of another bike and then a very familiar voice that made her heart leap.
"What is going on? Why is everyone gathered on the front lawn?" Jax's voice came. Scarlett walked over to the window so she could see what was going one.
"The club doesn't know how to react when someone comes home. I had to remind them of some things," Gemma responded. Scarlett knew that if looks could kill half the club would be dead by now. Gemma is very protective of her family, blood or not.
"What do you…..Scarlett," Jax said staring through the window right at her. He turned and addressed the club. "Scarlett is one of us, regardless of how she left or why she left. Her father is in the hospital and she will be here all week. The last thing she needs is for all of you to act like she is a ghost or like she is the long lost princess finally returned. She needs our support and our help. Now I expect every one of you to apologize to her before she leaves tonight." Jax took one last look at them all and walked into the house.
"You didn't have to do that," Scarlett said staring at him in disbelief, tears forming in her eyes.
"Yes I did. Besides, I am sure mine was child's play compared to Gemma's." Jax said smirking.
Scarlett let out a small laugh and then turned from him trying to hide her tears. Jax instantly walked over to her and turned her around.
"Hey. It is going to be ok," He said looking at her before hugging her. She hugged him back and just breathed in his scent. She took a few deep breaths and pulled away dabbing the tears from her eyes so that her eyeliner did not smear.
"I don't remember this outfit," Jax said looking at her.
"Mom bought it for me. She gave it to me tonight.
"Remind me to thank her," Jax said with a smirk. Scarlett opened her mouth to retort but the door opened.
One by one the members of the club walked in. Each one stopped at her. Some that she wasn't close to all said the same thing. "Sorry and if you need anything let me know." Once those had gone through she was surrounded by a group of men that she thought she hadn't missed, until now. They all opened their mouths and all started apologizing at the same time. Scarlett laughed and held up her hands, quieting them all.
"I should be apologizing to you guys. All you ever did was made me feel like I belonged and I just up and left without a word to any of you. I am sorry for that," Scarlett said tearing up.
"Lass, you have nothing to apologize for. Regardless of how you left you are still family," Chibs said hugging her.
"Ok guys, there will plenty of time for this after we eat," Gemma said from the dining room.
"She is right. I am starving," Scarlett said.
"Shocker," they all responded in unison. They all look at each other and started laughing.
"I am not always hungry," Scarlett responded pretending to be hurt.
"Yes you are," Jax said from beside her. "Now let's go eat before Gemma comes after us all with a knife," Jax said gesturing for everyone to go into the dining room.
One by one they gave Scarlett a big hug before entering the dining room. Soon Jax was the only one left in the room.
"They are glad you are back. I haven't seen them smile like that in a while," Jax said looking after them. "I am surprised you didn't burn that jacket," he said turning to her.
"I tried, mom wouldn't let me," Scarlett said looking down. Jax looked at her in disbelief. "She knew I would regret it, and she was right. Besides, it wasn't just from you. It was from them too, and I would gladly come back to be the Princess again."
"Well that is something that can be talked about later. Let's go eat before we end up on Gemma's list," Jax said with a smirk.
"Ok," Scarlett said walking towards the dining room. Jax slid in beside her and grabbed her hand giving it a quick squeeze and whispering, "I am glad you are back. Even if it is only for a week," before releasing her hand and walking towards the other end of the table and sitting on Clay's left side. Scarlett smirked at him and then looked for a seat.
"Here Lass!" Chibs called motioning to the seat between him and Bobby.
"Cause that isn't asking for trouble," Scarlett joked walking to the empty seat.
"I keep my hands to myself, thank you ma'am," Bobby said laughing.
"Yea and I have never had a drink in my entire life," Scarlett joked back.
"Can we leave the joking for after I leave?" Her mom piped up from the other end of the table.
"Sorry mom," Scarlett said smiling. She took her jacket and laid it on the back of her chair before sitting between the two men.
Dinner went on. Everyone ate and talked. Scarlett caught up with those around her, occasionally glancing up the table at Jax who was staring at her. She hadn't had this much fun in a while. She didn't exactly have many friends off at college, actually she couldn't think of one actual friend at college. She continued laughing at the men goofing off around.
"So how did you get the Princess of Anarchy nickname and why did you leave?" Juice, one of the new guys she had just met, asked.
"It is a long and complicated story," Scarlett responded taking a quick glance at Jax, who was now frowning, and then taking a sip of her drink.
"How complicated can it be?" Juice asked.
"Juice.." Chibs warned.
"It is just a question Chibs," Juice responded. Scarlett realized that the whole room had gone quiet and all eyes were on her.
"Excuse me," Scarlett said getting up quickly from the table and walking onto the back patio.
"Nice going Juice," She heard Chibs say as she closed the door.
She took a deep breath and walked over to one of the chairs on the patio and sank down into it. She stared up at the sky and mindlessly rubbed her arms. Her mom was right, it was chilly.
"I will be in in a second mom," she said looking the other way when she heard the door open. She hated people seeing her cry and the pain of what happened was too fresh in her mind.
"Your mom left about an hour ago. She didn't want to spoil your fun. She asked me to make sure you got home safe," Jax's voice came from behind her.
"Yes because I need protection walking 25 feet," Scarlett said laughing. She wiped her eyes quickly and ran her fingers under her eyes to fix any smudge make up before turning to face him.
"I came to check on you," He said standing a few feet away.
"I am fine. Just needed some air," She said forcing a smile on her face. A breeze blew causing her to frown and shiver.
"Will you ever learn to wear a jacket when you go outside," Jax replied pulling his kutte off and his hoodie. Before Scarlett could even object Jax was handing her his hoodie.
"Since when are their SAMCRO Hoodies?" Scarlett asked laughing as she pulled it on.
"Since we ride almost all year round and at night. It can get pretty cold," Jax responded looking at her. "I had forgotten how you looked in my clothes.
"You are hilarious Teller. I am maybe a third the size you are. I might as well be wearing Bobby's jacket," She responded standing up.
"I know you aren't ok Scar. I can see it in your face and your eyes. And don't tell me you are just worried for your dad either. I know you better than that," Jax said cutting her off before she could respond.
"Fine you got me. You were one of the last people I wanted to run into this week. I was hoping to stay away from all things SAMCRO," Scarlett confessed.
"Why?" Jax asked taken back, hurt flashed in his eyes.
"Because at the end of the week; I have to go back to school and finish. I have to get out of that God awful place. I cannot stand it there, Jax. And I knew that if I saw you guys everything would come flooding back and I would never want to leave," she responded walking towards him.
"Hey, you will go back at the end of the week. You will finish and then you can come home," Jax said putting his hands on her shoulders.
"Jax what is there for me to do here with a Master's in Business?" She asked looking down.
"You could open a shop. There is a lot for you to do here," Jax said looking at her.
"What kind of shop? I don't have that kind of money to just open a shop, Jax. That takes years of planning," she responded walking away from him. She stood on the edge of the patio staring up at the sky. Jax walked over to her and placed his arms around her.
"I will talk to Clay and Gemma," Jax whispered in her ear.
"I don't want to borrow money from anyone Jax," She responded not looking at him.
"I don't mean a loan," Jax said.
Scarlett turned to face him. "Then what do you mean?"
"I can ask them if you can run TM," Jax responded looking at her.
"Jax," Scarlett started, but her voice caught her throat as she realized how close they were.
"Don't say no. Think about it. We could use someone to get that place in order," Jax said slipping his arms around her waist.
"Jax," Scarlett started, breathing heavily. "We can't."
"Why?" he asked bringing his face closer to hers.
"Because you are still married," Scarlett said looking at him in the eyes. Jax took a step back and looked at her.
"How did you know?" Jax asked looking at her in disbelief.
"My mother," she responded looking at her feet. "Did you love her?"
"I thought I did. I think I was just trying to cover the hurt from you leaving though," he responded looking the other way.
"Jax…. I… I think it's time I went home," she said walking over to the door. Jax didn't respond he just walked into the house. Scarlett said a quick goodbye to the guys and promised to stop by TM this week to see them all.
"Thank you for this Gemma. I needed it," She said as she gave Gemma a hug goodbye.
"Not a problem, sweetheart. I am here if you need anything," Gemma said moving her hair away from her face.
Scarlett gave her a weak smile and then met Jax at the door.
"You make sure she gets home safe now, Jackie Boy," Chibs called.
"I will," he called back as they walked out the door.
"I don't understand why I need protection to walk a whole 25 feet to my house," Scarlett said with a frown.
"You are SAMCRO royalty. You will always need protection no matter where you go," he responded not looking at her.
"Well this is me," she said as they reached her door. "Goodnight Jackson," she said taking off his hoodie and handing it to him. "I will see you around."
"Scar, Wait!" he said grabbing her hand as she turned to walk into the house. "Go on a ride with me, for old times' sake. You can come see my house. Gemma has been spending a fortune getting it redone for when Able comes home."
"Ok. One ride," she responded after a few moments.
They made their way over to Jax's bike in silence. Jax hopped on first and then handed her his extra helmet. She put her jacket back on and took it from his hand.
"I am warning you Jax. I haven't been on a bike since the last time we rode together," she responded putting the helmet on and zipping up her jacket.
"I am sure you will be ok. It isn't hard and I am sure you remember what to do," he said with a smirk as she climbed behind him. "Hold on tight!" That was the only warning he gave as he started his bike and took off. Scarlett flew her hands around his waist and held on tight. After a few moments she released her grip some and relaxed. She had forgotten how much she loved being on the back of the bike, especially Jax's.
Author's Note: ok so this chapter is shorter, but every time I got a significant amount done, my word would reset itself and I would have to retype everything I had just typed. Talk about infuriating.