💘( Ripple Effect! )✨

TWENTY ONE

[ Potlatch ]

( 🏍️💀💘👪💒🔫 )

" There's only been three women I'm afraid of. Gemma, my third grade math teacher and that Irish whore. "

~ LETTY MORROW to TARA KNOWLES 

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TRIGGER WARNING⚠️: Detailed oral sex will appear in this chapter. And talk about sexual orientation and preferences.  

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CLEO'S OUTFIT 

OPIE WINSTON woke up to the warm light of morning filtering through his bedroom window, but the bed beside him was empty. He rubbed his eyes, slowly getting up and pulling on a shirt. As he walked out into the hallway, the faint sound of laughter and clinking dishes reached his ears.

Curious, he made his way to the kitchen, where he was greeted by a heart-warming sight. Cleo was standing by the stove, flipping pancakes with practiced ease. At the table, his kids, Ellie and Kenny, were eagerly digging into a plate of golden-brown pancakes, their faces lit up with joy.

Ellie looked up and spotted him first, "Daddy, Cleo made pancakes!" she exclaimed, her mouth half-full.

Opie chuckled, ruffling her hair as he walked over to the stove, "You did all this?" he asked, his voice filled with a mix of surprise and admiration.

Cleo turned to him, a playful smile tugging at her lips, "You look surprised," she said, arching an eyebrow.

Opie shrugged, leaning against the counter, "No, well, kind of. You're just full of surprises, aren't you?" He couldn't help but smile back, the easy banter between them feeling more natural with each passing day.

Cleo laughed softly, flipping another pancake onto the growing stack, "I figured you could use a break. Plus, I promised the kids pancakes if they helped me clean up last night."

Kenny looked up from his plate, syrup smeared across his face, "Cleo makes the best pancakes, Dad!"

Opie glanced around the kitchen, taking in the scene. It felt so...normal, so right. He couldn't deny the growing connection between him and Cleo. They'd spent countless nights talking until they fell asleep in each other's arms, but they'd kept things friendly, avoiding any physical intimacy. Yet, the chemistry was undeniable, simmering just beneath the surface.

As Cleo placed the last pancake on the stack, Opie reached out and gently touched her arm, "Thanks for this," he said quietly, his eyes meeting hers. "It means a lot."

Cleo's gaze softened, and she placed a hand over his, "Anytime, Opie. You know that."

They shared a moment of understanding, before Ellie interrupted, waving her fork in the air, "Daddy, come sit! The pancakes are getting cold!"

Opie chuckled, letting go of Cleo's arm and moving to join his kids at the table. Cleo followed, sitting down beside him. As they ate, the room filled with laughter and conversation, the morning sunlight casting a warm glow over them. 

Despite the uncertainty of their future and the challenges they faced, Opie felt a sense of peace he hadn't experienced in a long time. Cleo's presence, her kindness and strength, was becoming an anchor in his life. And as they shared this simple breakfast, he couldn't help but hope that maybe, just maybe, they could build something beautiful together.

***

LETTY'S OUTFIT 

Letty Morrow unleashed her built up rage as she threw punch after punch at the heavy boxing bag, her fists flying with precision and power. Beads of sweat glistened on her forehead as she worked off the weight she had gained stress eating while the guys were in prison. Clay stood nearby, watching her with a mix of pride and concern.

"I've been meaning to ask," Clay began, his voice cutting through the rhythmic thud of Letty's punches. "How did you get the money to bail us out?"

Letty paused for a moment, catching her breath as she glanced over at her father, "Oswald gave it to me." 

Clay arched an eyebrow, his expression sceptical, "You blackmailed him, didn't you?"

Letty scoffed, shaking her head, slightly offended, "God, no. Who do you think I am? I asked him nicely."

Clay chuckled, a hint of disbelief in his voice, "And he just gave you a million dollars?"

"Yeah, 'cause when you're nice to someone, Dad, they want to help you out," Letty said with a smirk, removing her gloves and reaching for a towel to wipe her forehead, before turning to make her way out of the garage, but as she walked past Tig, who was working on a motorcycle nearby, he couldn't resist a playful jab. 

"Couldn't find the knife, huh?"

"Nope."

Chuckling erupted in the garage as Letty made her way out. 

***

Opie walked through the bustling clubhouse, his heavy boots echoing on the floor as he made his way towards the bar. Letty trailed behind him like a shadow, her determined expression matching her quick steps.

Opie glanced over his shoulder, eyebrows raised in amusement, "You're really going to follow me everywhere, huh?"

Letty grinned, tying her hair up into a messy bun, "I promised I'd be here for you, Ope. And I'm sticking to that promise."

Opie chuckled, shaking his head, "I appreciate it, but you don't have to follow me around like a lost puppy."

"But I want to," Letty insisted, falling into step beside him.

Opie sighed, but there was a hint of fondness in his expression. He couldn't deny that he appreciated Letty's loyalty, especially with everything going on with Chibs and Juice in the hospital. But having her glued to his side was starting to feel a little suffocating.

"I gotta piss," Opie said, taking a sip of his beer, before placing it down and pushing off the bar. 

Letty nodded eagerly, but as Opie started to walk away, she moved to follow him.

Opie stopped in his tracks, turning to face her with a raised eyebrow, "Letty, seriously?!"

Letty blinked innocently, but there was a mischievous twinkle in her eyes, "What? I told you I'd never leave your side."

Opie sighed, running a hand through his hair, "I thought you meant emotionally, Letty. Not literally attached to my hip."

Letty grinned, "Well, tough luck, big guy. You're stuck with me."

Opie rolled his eyes, but there was a hint of amusement in his voice, "Fine, but you're not coming with me to the bathroom."

Letty's grin widened, her eyes sparkling with mischief, "Why not? We can bond over urinals."

Opie shook his head, trying to suppress a smile, "Letty, I love you like a sister, but there are some lines I don't cross."

Letty laughed, throwing her arm around his shoulders, "You're no fun, Ope."

Opie chuckled, shaking his head as he placed her back down on the bar stool. Letty may drive him a little crazy sometimes, but he wouldn't have it any other way. After all, what are friends for if not to stick by your side, even when you're just trying to take a piss?

***

"It's a little bit painful when I ride," Half-Sack explained as he leaned against the bar, unscrewing the cap of his medication, a soda can sitting on the bar in front of him, cracked open. Letty watched his movements carefully, the nurse inside her wanting to scold him for what he was about to do - take his meds with soda and not water. But she bit her tongue, remaining silent as she leaned her elbow on Bobby's shoulder as they all gathered around the prospect, hanging onto his every words. "Sometimes I feel it when I walk," he continued and Letty was seriously starting to think this boy had a serious infection, but kept her mouth shut, because, hey, that could be normal, right? "Other than that, back to normal," he said, popping the pill and downing the tablet with his soda, making Letty wince as she continued to bite her tongue. 

Tig leaned back against the bar, whispering to the Morrow girl, "Is it gay that I want to see it?" 

"Gay curious," she replied with a smirk. 

"Yeah, you would know," Tig shot back, matching her smirk. 

Letty furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "Yeah, I like licking pussy. Was that meant to be a dig?" 

"Wait, I'm confused," Happy spoke up, matching the girl's confused expression. "I thought you were with Juice." 

"I am," Letty replied, unable to help the wistful smile that crossed her face at the mention of her boyfriend. "But I'd be with him whether he had a pussy or a cock." 

Happy's face hardened as his confusion only grew. 

"Letty, here, doesn't discriminate against gender," Bobby explained. 

"So, you're bisexual?" Happy asked, trying to understand the complexities of Letty's mind and preferences. 

"Well, kind of," Letty replied. "More like I fall for the soul of the person not their equipment. Make sense?" she asked, raising an eyebrow and shooting him an innocent smile. 

"Perfect sense," he muttered, but it was clear he was still very confused. 

"Don't try to understand it, man," Tig chimed in, noticing Happy's strong concentration. "She's...different," he said, as a taunting smirk tugged at the corners of his lips. 

Letty shot Tig a playful glare, "Fuck you, Tig." 

His smirk only widened when he shot back with, "In your dreams, princess." He then turned his attention back to Half-Sack. "But come on, let's see this thing. Drop 'em." 

Half-Sack pushed off the bar and proudly unbuckled his belt, dropping his pants along with his underwear. 

"Show time," Bobby muttered as they all leaned over to examine Half-Sack's new ball. 

Happy face's contorted in slight disgust, "Is it supposed to be that swollen?"

"I think so," Half-Sack furrowed his eyebrows in confusion as he looked down examining his swollen nut. "Letty, what do you think?" he asked, looking up at his friend. 

Letty leaned over the bar to have a closer look and her whole face contorted in disgust, "Ooh...Yeah, that should not be that swollen."  

"What?" Half-Sack panicked, looking back down at his junk. "Nah, I'm sure it's fine," he said, waving a dismissive hand. 

"Sure. If you want to lose both of them," Letty replied casually. 

Half-Sack's eyes widened, "What?!"

Opie re-entered after his bathroom break, pulling a disgusted face as soon as he caught sight of Half-Sack ball sack, "I shouldn't have to see that," he said, covering his eyes. 

"Finally!" Letty exclaimed. "Took you long enough. What happened in there, you find Narnia or something?" she mocked, eliciting chuckles from the guys. 

Opie flashed her a sarcastic smile, letting out a humourless laugh, "No, I was just enjoying the peace. First time I've been alone all week without your head shoved so far up my ass."  

The laughter now turned onto Letty, making her pout, crossing her arms over her chest. 

"The new ball, I gather," Opie said to Half-Sack, who was redoing his belt after finally pulling his pants back up. "Congrats." 

"Thanks," Half-Sack smiled proudly. 

Everyone then took their beers and headed over to sit around the coffee table in the corner of the clubhouse. Letty took a seat beside Opie on the couch, who leaned back against it, his arm draping over Letty's shoulders as she leaned against him, her feet propped up on the armrest, earning a glare from Happy, who had planned on sitting there, but she simply flashed him a smirk, making him angrily grumble to himself, before taking a seat on the other couch.  

"What's up?" Opie inquired, turning to Bobby, who sat across from him. 

"We need to take a look at this thing with Clay and Jax," Bobby declared, the concern etched across the lines on his forehead. 

"Heard they got into it at county," Half-Sack chimed in.

"It was brutal, man," Happy added. 

"Shit's been brewing for months," Bobby stated, shaking his head, feeling at a complete loss with what to do to bend fences. "Since Donna." 

Letty subtly met Tig's eyes with a raised eyebrow, making him look down at the table in guilt. Letty wasn't angry at Tig, she knew who was really responsible, but it didn't mean she forgave him fully, but she knew how much guilt and remorse he had been carrying with him since. 

"You think Donna's death's got something to do with their beef?" Opie questioned the club's resident secretary, slight anger laced in his tone.  

Letty was immediately shaking her head, "Started way before," she said, locking eyes with Tig once again. 

Half-Sack sighed, leaning his head back against the armchair, "What do you think they're fighting about?" 

"Jax pushing for change," Opie replied. 

Bobby shook his head, disagreeing, "That kind of beef is good for this club. It keeps us current. What's going on between them is much uglier. And if it keeps going, it going to hurt us, worse than Zobelle and the ATF. We got to dig into them. We got to get to the truth."

"I can talk to Jax," Letty suggested. 

"You two been bumping heads," Bobby pointed out. 

Letty scoffed, "We're siblings, that's what we're supposed to do," she said in a duh tone. "He'll tell me. He tells me everything," she said with a smug smirk. 

"That's because you're a persistent little shit," Opie said, roughing up the girl's hair. 

"Shut up," she scolded, flattening out her hair. "I get answers, don't I?" 

"Can't argue you with that," Tig stated, sharing a smile with the princess of Samcro. 

"All right," Bobby nodded his head slowly, before turning his attention to Tig. "Tigger, you should talk to Clay." 

"Yeah," Tig nodded. "Okay." 

"We find out what's going on. We bring it to the table and we get past this shit. It's on us to fix this--" 

Letty was immediately shaking her head as she noticed Jax walking through the door as she tried to subtly signal to him and make Bobby shut up. 

At the sound of Jax's footsteps, Bobby stopped himself and turned to address him. 

"What?" Jax inquired, shoving his hands in his jean pockets, looking over the awkwardly quiet group with suspicion. 

"Nothing. Just offloading to sweet cheeks over here," Letty mocked, tapping Half-Sack's knee as a mischievous smirk played on her lips. "And his new swollen nut." This elicited laughter around the table. 

"Yeah, welcome back, shithead," Jax greeted, earning a proud smirk and thumbs up from the prospect.

A deep sigh then left Letty's lips, before she pushed herself to her feet, "I'll see you assholes later, I'm going to see my boys," she said, sauntering over to place a kiss on Jax's cheek, before she turned back to Opie. "Call me if you need me." 

"Yeah, I'll let you know if my ass needs wiping," he shot back. 

"Jesus, Ope," Letty said, shaking her head. "There's lines even I don't cross."

Tig shook his head in disapproval, "Yeah, brother, that's fuck up," he said, earning nods of agreements and mutters from the guys, who shot Opie looks of disgust, making a cheeky Letty chuckle to herself. 

"You're a little shit, you know that?" Opie playfully sneered at the girl. 

"Yeah, but you love me," she retorted, flashing him her classic innocent smile. 

"Debatable," he muttered, matching her smirk. 

Letty simply stuck up her rude finger as she started to back away towards the door. 

"Hey, Letty," Half-Sack called out to her. "I'm not gonna lose both my balls, right?" 

"I don't know," Letty shrugged her shoulders. "I'm not a doctor," she simply stated, before whipping around and heading out the door. 

"Letty!" A panicked Half-Sack called out to her as the whole room burst with laughter. 

***

Cleo's body trembled as tears streamed down her face, her distress evident as Lyla's arms were securely wrapped around her. The frightened girls barely heard the roar of the motorcycle engine when Jax pulled up to Cara Cara.

Jax's eyebrows furrowed in confusion at the scene in front of him as he dismounted his bike and quickly approached Luann, who was rubbing Cleo's back in comfort, whispering reassuring words in her ear, trying her best to calm her down. 

"What happened?" he immediately questioned the porn queen.

Cleo's sniffles echoed through the parking lot as she struggled to compose herself, squeezing her eyes closed, trying desperately to erase the memories of what she was met with this morning when she was the first to arrive at Cara Cara, having an early morning shoot to get ready for. 

"Someone broke in," Luanna explained to the Vice President of Samcro. "Stole our HD camera and my laptop," she grimaced, her frustration evident in her tone. "I had three rough cuts on it." 

"Shit!" Jax muttered under his breath, his jaw tightening with anger. "What happened to the guard dog I bought you?" 

Cleo's tears flowed freely now as a whimpering cry escaped her lips, earning a strange look from Jax. Covering her mouth, Cleo buried her face in the crook of Lyla's neck as she held her close, rubbing her back soothingly. 

"See for yourself," Luann said, motioning over to the front door of Cara Cara, before turning her attention back to a traumatised Cleo. "It's okay, sweetie," she said, cupping the side of her face as she met her gaze, her voice soothing and gentle. "No one's gonna hurt you." 

Stepping inside the studio, Jax came to a stop in front of Cleo's dressing room and on the door written in blood were the words, 'Dead Bitch!' But that wasn't what caught Jax's eye, it was the dog lying dead on the floor with his throat slit, blood pooling around him. 

"Oh, man," Jax sighed. 

Luann appeared beside Jax, her own eyes glassy as they both shared a knowing look, "Cleo's scared. She wants Ope." 

Jax nodded in understanding, already pulling out his phone to call his best friend, "I'll give him a call." 

***

Cleo sat down inside a makeshift set, her hands trembling as she stared blankly at the threatening message etched across her dressing room door. 'Dead bitch,' it read, the words chilling her to the bone. Beside the message lay the lifeless body of the guard dog purchased by Jax to protect the studio, his neck slit as a grim reminder of the dangers lurking outside. 

Opie kneeled before her, his expression filled with concern as he grasped her hands in his, "Cleo, I'm so sorry," he murmured, his voice soft with sympathy.

Cleo gripped his hands tightly, the weight of fear and anger pressing down on her, "He knew exactly where to hit me where it hurts most," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "He was such a good dog."

Cleo loved animals and when Jax bought the German Shepard, she couldn't help but get attached to him. 

Opie tightened his hold on her hands, his heart breaking for the fear and vulnerability she was experiencing, "Nothing's going to happen to you, Cleo. I promise."

Cleo rapidly shook her head, tears welling up in her eyes, "No. He's gonna comes back. I know he will. And what if next time it's not just a dog he kills?!" 

Opie sighed, his mind racing with thoughts of how to keep Cleo safe, "Then we'll beef up security. We'll make sure there are no more vulnerabilities."

Cleo looked up at him, her eyes pleading for reassurance, "And what about me? What if he comes after me again?!" 

Opie's jaw clenched with determination, "I won't let that happen, babe. I'll protect you, no matter what."

Cleo's breath caught in her throat, overwhelmed by the depth of Opie's loyalty and devotion, "Thank you," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the pounding of her heart.

Opie brushed a stray lock of hair from her face, "I will always keep you safe," he promised, looking her dead in the eye with a solemn vow as he cupped the side of her face. 

And as she met his eye, Cleo knew, for the rest time in a long time, she wasn't alone. She had Opie, and she knew without a shadow of a doubt, he would keep her safe. 

Completely lost in their own little world, simply enjoying the comfort of each other's presence, they missed the group across the room watching them. 

Jax scoffed in amusement, motioning over to the unconventional pairing, "They look pretty cosy," he observed, shaking his head in disbelief, not seeing that one coming. 

Lyla grinned, her eyes softening as she watched her best friend and Opie together, "Well, I think they're cute," she admitted, a hint of fondness in her voice.

Luann nodded in agreement, her gaze drifting over to the couple with a wistful smile, "Yeah, reminds me of me and Otto," she remarked, a note of nostalgia in her voice as she then met Bobby's gaze, both of them sharing an awkward look, slight guilt flashing in Bobby's eyes. 

Opie approached the group after managing to calm Cleo down. 

"She okay--?" Jax started to asked, but stopped himself, shaking his head, looking slightly taken aback. "I can't believe I just asked that." 

Bobby chuckled, earning a stern look from Opie, which made him lower his head and cover his mouth, trying to stop that laughter that threatened to burst out. 

"She's scared. Think's it was Georgie. Reckons he's gonna keep coming after her," Opie said, his jaw tightened in anger as his fists were clenched at his sides. 

"I agree," Jax nodded. "The shit that's missing, it's got to be Caruso." 

"Let's go," Opie said and without another word, he turned around and headed for the door, a determined look in his eyes. 

Both Jax and Bobby furrowed their eyebrows in confusion, surprised at the strong instinct Opie had to protect Cleo, who had been nothing but trouble in recent months. Sharing a look, they nodded, before following after their brother. 

"See you later?" Bobby asked Luann as he past her. 

Luann smiled widely, "Yeah," she said, before calling after Jax. "Hey!" she raised her voice so it could be heard over the music as she waved at him. "What time does Gemma want us for dinner?" 

"Oh, 8:00," Jax called back, earning a nod from Luann. He then turned and called out to the younger blonde, who was preparing for a shoot, "Hey, Lyla!" 

"Yeah?" the girl whipped around to face him. 

"Gemma's having a potlatch. You should come." 

Lyla furrowed her eyebrows in confusion, "Why? Shit, sorry, that sounded rude," she said, scratching the back of her neck nervously. "But why?" 

Jax chuckled, "Riddle had our back inside, it's the least we can do." 

A small smile graced Lyla's face at the mention of her husband, "I got Kaeden," she said, motioning over to her son, who was surprisingly behaving for once, his face buried in his iPad. "The little shit scared off another babysitter," she said, sending an apologetic look Jax's way, while her voice resembled annoyance mixed with disappointment. 

Jax chuckled, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly, "Bring him. Bobby, will look after him." 

"What?" Bobby's head whipped around in his VP's direction, who sent him a look. "I mean, yeah. He's a good kid." 

"Have you met my son?" Lyla asked with an amused smirk. 

"He just needs a good male role model. I'll straighten him out," Bobby assured her. 

A wide smile crossed Lyla's face, she couldn't believe how nice they were all being, "Okay! Thanks," she said way too excitedly, if she wasn't in public she would of squealed. As a mother, it often felt like her entire life revolved around tending to her kid's needs. Sometimes, it felt incredibly refreshing to simply leave the house, even if it was to visit a stranger's home for a meal.

Jax smiled as he turned around to address his boys. 

"You think I can bring Cleo?" Opie asked, motioning over to the porn star, who was reapplying her makeup in front of a mirror. "She's been helping me out with the kids." 

Jax's eyebrows shot up in surprise, "The clingy bitch? Really?" he asked, unable to contain the smirk that tugged at the corner of his lips. 

Opie sighed, annoyance etched across his face, "She's not clingy," he defended. "She's just lonely and wants connection," he said as he glanced over to the girl, who was now in deep conversation with Lyla, laughing about something she had said, and at the sound of her laugh and seeing the smile crossing her face, Opie couldn't help the smile that graced his own - Opie finally saw what Letty had been saying about Cleo for years. 

Jax noticed the look that crossed his best friend's face and all his amusement dropped as he asked, "You're really serious about her, aren't you?"

"I don't know," Opie confessed, a sigh leaving his lips. It was all relatively new and he didn't want to rush anything and risk confusing his kids further. "The kids seem to like her though." 

Jax shook his head in a mix of amusement and disbelief, a soft chuckle escaping his lips, "I know best friends love to share, but this is just too weird."

"That's only if he's hittin' it?" Bobby chimed in, making his eyebrows jump, amusement clear on his face. 

"Come on, Bobby," Jax scolded, but then a smirk crossed his face as he turned back to his best friend. "But are you?" he asked, sharing a chuckle with the older man. 

"No," Opie replied firmly. "We're just hanging out. Seeing where things go." 

"Dude, she's a pοrn star," Bobby shot back, sending him a look that said, 'come on'. 

"Your point?" Opie said, his voice becoming defensive. 

"My point is she's a pοrn star," Bobby repeated a little louder this time in emphasis. "You gotta hit it." 

Opie furrowed his eyebrows in confusion, "I thought you said it would be weird if I did." 

"Yeah, it would be. But imagine how good it would feel. I mean, she has sex with people for a living. And what I hear...she's an expert at her craft." 

Jax's smirked grew as he turned to Bobby completely amused, "What do you know about hooking up with pοrn stars?"

"Just what I heard. You know, it can get, like...I have been around, you know? I mean, it's like, it gets crazy sometimes, you know?" Bobby started to stutter and stammer nervously as his brothers both send him suspicious looks. "You should bring her to dinner tonight, man."

"Yeah, Gemma won't mind," Jax gave his friend a pat on the shoulder. 

Opie simply rose an eyebrow, almost saying 'seriously?' not believing that for a second - she hated her when Letty was dating her. "And Letty?" he inquired. 

"Make sure she ain't carrying," Jax suggested, shrugging his shoulders nonchalantly as he made his way out of the studio. 

Bobby pulled a 'ooh' face, "That is not gonna be pretty," he muttered, shaking his head in amusement. "Good luck," he said, patting him on the shoulder on his way out. 

"Thanks, man," Opie muttered to himself, before glancing over at Cleo one more time, who was currently in the middle of a photo shoot with Lyla, who flashed him a smile and a wave, he returned the gesture, before turning around and following after his fellow Sons. 

***

LETTY'S OUTFIT 

Letty walked down the sterile hallway of St. Thomas Hospital, her heart racing with anticipation. She hadn't seen Juice in what felt like forever, even though it was only 24 hours, but the longing to be close to him was almost unbearable. As she approached his room, she took a deep breath, straightening the nurse's uniform she tweaked to make it look a little sexy. A mischievous smile spread across her lips as she pushed the door open.

Juice lay in bed, his face lighting up the moment he saw her, "Hey, baby," he greeted, his voice filled with warmth despite the pain he was in.

"Hey, handsome," Letty replied, her voice soft and loving. She walked over to the bed, leaning down to give him a gentle kiss, "How are you feeling?"

"I've been better," Juice admitted, his eyes filled with both pain and desire as he openly checked her out. "But seeing you like this...If I wasn't in so much pain, I'd fuck you right now. You're looking so sexy, my little nurse."

Letty grinned, feeling a rush of heat at his words. She climbed onto the bed, laying next to him and pressing her body against his, "I'll tell you a secret," she whispered against his lips. "I wore it for you. I'm not even working today, but I know how much you like it."

"Fuck. Come here," Juice growled, pulling her on top of him, so she was straddling his waist. His lips found her neck, kissing and nibbling down her smooth skin.

Letty moaned, her head snapping back at the sensation, "You gotta be careful, baby, or you might break one of your stitches."

"It'll be worth it," Juice muttered, his voice husk with lust.

Letty smirked, a playful glint in her eyes, "Mm...I got a better idea," she said as she started placing kisses down his body, sliding off him as she moved under the sheet. Her hands skilfully worked at the waistband of his pants.

Juice panicked, glancing nervously at the door that was left slightly ajar, "What are you doing?! Letty!" he nervously chuckled as he looked down at her, but Letty simply giggled, flashing him a cheeky smirk. "What if someone comes in?!" 

Letty hummed, biting into her bottom lip, "Then I'll just say I'm checking your wound," she said seductively, pulling down his boxer briefs, making his cock spring to life. "And there it is," she said with a satisfied purr.

"Jesus Christ," Juice gasped as Letty wrapped her hand around him, his head snapping back in pure pleasure as her lips closed around his length.

The hospital room, usually filled with the beeping of machines, was now filled with Juice's breathless gasps and Letty's soft moans as she moved her mouth with skilful ease, giving him the release he so desperately needed.

"Fuck," he hissed, eyes rolling to the back of his head at the feeling of his girlfriend's lips wrapped tightly around his cock. Placing a hand on top of her head, he started guiding her movements as her head bobbed up and down. 

Letty gagged slightly as Juice started to thrust his hips upwards, hitting the back of her throat, but she didn't let that deter her.

"Oh, baby. You're fuckin' amazing," Juice practically moaned.  

A small giggle came from Letty's throat as she picked up the pace, moving her hand up and down his shaft along with her mouth, causing Juice's chest to heave as his breathing picked up. 

Juice's fingers tangled in her hair, his body tensing as he neared the edge, "Letty..." he breathed out, becoming flustered. "Oh, fuck, baby!"

Letty's paced once again increased, her own excitement building as she felt him nearing his climax. Finally, with a shudder and a big thrust of his hips, a low moan left his lips as he found his release, his body collapsing back onto the mattress in exhaustion and satisfaction.

Letty hummed in delight, swallowing his load without a fuss. Giggling, she wiped the corner of her mouth as she emerged from under the sheet, her face flushed with triumph and affection. She crawled back up to lay beside him. 

Juice was quick to grab hold of her face and bring her in for a rough and wet kiss, his tongue passionately dancing against hers that made her moan as she felt a tingle between her legs. Juice and Letty still hadn't managed to have sex yet since her attack. And God, Letty desperately wanted to feel her boyfriend inside her again, but was still afraid of what might happen if she tried to again. 

"How was that for some nursing care?" she teased, resting her head on his chest.

Juice laughed softly, wrapping an arm around her, "Best damn care I've ever had. But seriously, what if someone had walked in?"

Letty shrugged, a mischievous glint in her eye, "Then they would have seen just how dedicated I am to my patients."

Juice shook his head, a grin spreading across his face, "You're something else, Letty Morrow."

"And you love me for it," she replied, her voice filled with certainty and love.

Juice brought her in for one more kiss, his heart full, "Yeah, I really do," he murmured onto her lips as he rested his forehead on hers, both of their eyes closed as they enjoyed the serenity of simply being in each other's arms. 

***

Letty had a wide smiled plastered on her face as she made her way down the sterile halls of the hospital towards Chibs' room in the ICU. But the Morrow girl stopped dead in her tracks as she spotted someone inside by the man's bedside casually reading a magazine. Letty's smile dropped and anger took over her features as she grasped the door handle tightly, swinging the door open and storming inside, catching Fiona's attention, who stood abruptly at the sight of Letty, who simply folded her arms over her chest, tilting her head to the side as she raised an eyebrow, "You're a long way from home, sweetheart?" she sneered. 

"Yes. I am," Fiona replied, her demeanour radiating confidence, not one bit intimidated by the young woman. 

"Why?" Letty's voice raised. 

"I was worried about him," she simply stated. 

Letty scoffed, finding that statement amusing, "Could've sent flowers." 

"Just needed to see him, Letty," Fiona hissed through gritted teeth, her eyes narrowing slightly. 

Letty glanced over at Chibs to check he was asleep, before getting right in the woman's face, backing her into a wall, "We are in a shitstorm here. The last thing we need is you turning him inside out. So, I suggest you get back on your broomstick and fly yourself home to Belfast, because you are not welcome here," she hissed, looking the woman up and down in disgust. 

Fiona stood tall, taking a step forward and matching Letty's threatening demeanour, "I am his wife," she stated firmly, her Irish brogue stronger than ever. "Who are you to tell me where I can and can't be," she sneered, looking the child up and down in disdain, before the door opened and caught both their attention. 

Tara stopped dead in her tracks as she noticed the tension brewing between the two women, "Hello?" She furrowed her eyebrows in confusion as she walked further into the room, closing the door behind her. 

"Tara, this is Fiona Larkin," Letty introduced, the disdain for the woman evident in her voice. 

"Nice to meet you," Tara replied kindly, but could sense the obvious dislike Letty had for the woman, so she strode forward to address her firmly, but professionally. "But I'm afraid the ICU is for immediate family members only," she said, shooting her a sweet smile that was obviously so fake. 

This made Letty chuckle amusingly. 

"She's here," Fiona sneered, motioning to the girl beside her. 

"I'm he's--" Letty went to argue but paused, unable to finish that sentence, making Fiona smirk victoriously. "I am family! A lot more than you are," she hissed, giving her another once over. 

"Letty," Chibs groaned, shuffling in the uncomfortable hospital bed, catching everyone's attention. "That's enough." 

"But--" Letty started to argue, but he cut her off. 

"I said, that's enough!" he snapped, wincing slightly as the sudden movement caused a wave of pain to shoot through his body. 

"Sorry," Letty pouted, crossing her arms over her chest like a six year old that was just scolded by her father. 

Fiona immediately rushed to her husband's side, "Darlin', you can't be straining yourself like that," she cooed, running her hand through his hair, making Letty gag in disgust. 

"Maybe you need to leave, Fi," Chibs managed to croak out. 

Fiona was slightly taken aback, a hurt expression washing over her features, "What?" she scoffed. "I have a right--" 

"Just go," he said more firmly now. 

Fiona scoffed, straightening herself up, before she grabbed her bag, shooting Letty a glare on her way out the door, but Letty simply smirked smugly as she waved the woman off mockingly. 

"You okay?" Letty asked as she took a seat beside Chibs' bed. 

"You didn't need to give her a hard time, lass," he said gently, but his stern face said it all - he was not happy about her disrespecting his wife like that. 

Letty scoffed, "Yeah, I did," she said in disbelief - why was he defending her? "She hurt you," she stated firmly. "She's lucky I didn't do worse." 

Chibs chuckled, shaking his head in amusement, "She's the mother of my child," he reminded with no hint of amusement. 

"And that's why I didn't kill her," she shot back in a duh tone. 

"I need some rest," came his response as he shot her a look. "You can come back later." 

Letty sighed, "Okay," she said, standing up and placing a kiss on his forehead. "I love you," she murmured against his skin.  

"I love you too, lass," he said, reaching out to caress her cheek, before he drifted off to sleep once more, still very weak. 

Letty headed for the door and motioned for Tara to follow her out. 

***

Jax, with a wide smile across his face, strode into Georgie Caruso's office. And immediately, at the sight of the three bikers, the man was on his feet, grabbing his gun. Seeing this, Jax launched forward, grabbing the man's wrist, causing him to shoot up into the ceiling as they both wrestled for control of the deadly weapon. Bobby pulling out his own gun as he waited for a clear shot. But Opie didn't waste any time, throwing a punch to the back on Georgie's head, sending him to the floor. 

Opie with determination and a deadly glare, stormed over and placed his heavy boot against Georgie's throat, "How does that feel, you dead bitch?" he snarled. 

Georgie glanced over as the door slid open, revealing his trusted body guard, dragging Chuckie Marstein inside the office, missing Bobby, who instantly raised his gun and aimed it at the much taller man. 

"Come in, OJ," he taunted, pressing the barrel of the gun to his temple. 

"Get us the camera before my boy here crushes his throat," Jax ordered, pointing his own gun at the man. 

"Get the goddamn camera," Georgie breathed out when his body guard didn't move. 

The man simply turned and headed out of the office. 

"I'll cover him," Chuckie stated, following after him. 

Jax patted Opie on the shoulder, making Opie remove his boot from Georgie's throat. 

Bobby stepped over Georgie, walking over to his desk and grabbing the laptop that had Cara Cara written on the back of it, "I'm guessing this one's ours, but maybe we should take both just in case," he taunted, glancing over at his VP amused. 

"All my shit's on that one!" Georgie called out in protest. 

"This one?" Jax inquired, an amused smirk plastered on his face as he accepted the laptop from Bobby. 

"You son of a bitch," Georgie hissed as Jax's stepped over him and headed over to the fish tank. "Don't!" But Jax didn't listen, simply dropping it into the pool of water, the electronics inside sizzling - that wasn't going to work any time soon. 

"That's for killing the dog, you psycho piece of shit," Jax sneered. 

"You think this is how it works? You idiots could just crash in here and take stuff from me?" he said, his voice threatening as he glared up at the Sons, who simply chuckled in amusement - he didn't scare them. "You got no idea. You white trash morons, you got no--"

Opie cut him off, simply placing his boot on his throat, forcing him back down to the ground, "Cleo's with me now. You touch her, call her, even think about her, I'll kill you," he warned, his voice dark and deadly, pushing down on his throat hard one last time, making the man choke, before he released his foot as Chuckie re-entered with the camera and the body guard.

Opie simply took the large bag from him and stormed out the room, his brothers following after him with smug faces, making sure to brush their shoulders against Georgie's useless body guard on the way out. 

***

"I didn't know Chibs was married," Tara said as her and Letty were making their way down the corridor inside St. Thomas. 

"They never got divorced," Letty informed her with sighed. "It's been a long time since they were together. Way before I was even born. He left her, moved to Charming with my Mum," she said, chuckling amusingly. "Bitch really didn't like that. I think she always knew there was more between them than just friends. Kerrianne was a result of bottle of scotch and bad decisions. Chibs didn't take my mother's death well. Caused him to jump on a plane to Belfast, seeking comfort from his dear old wife. But we all know who he really longed for." 

Tara smirked in amusement, sensing Letty's disdain for the woman, "Sounds like she's not a favourite," she chuckled, shaking her head. 

"There's only been three women I'm afraid of..." Letty started as they came to a stop at the end of the hall. "Gemma, my third grade math teacher and that Irish whore," she hissed with disdain as she spotted Fiona once again, before turning back to Tara. "Hey, where's Chibs at - his insurance shit?" she asked in concern. 

"He'll be off critical in a day or two. He'll have to finish his recovery at Stockton." 

Letty was immediately shaking her head in protest, "That can't happen," her fear was evident on her face. "Not with her around. He can't be out of our sight, Tara," she said, clawing at her friend's arm desperately. 

Tara slightly winced as she felt Letty's nails digging into her skin, "There's nothing I can do," she said, meeting her gaze with an apologetic expression. 

Letty scoffed, "Don't give me that shit. There's always something we can do." 

Tara shook her head, lowering her voice as she spotted Margaret heading over to the nurse's station, "Margaret Murphy has been up my ass about you and the club," she whispered, nervously glancing over her shoulder at the woman to make sure she wasn't listening, Letty spotting their boss, who she had been trying to avoid for days now. "I try anything, she'll be all over it. It can't happen. I'm sorry, Letty," with one final apologetic look, she rubbed her arm gently, before turning and walking away. 

Letty's gaze was still locked on the red head, her eyes narrowing slightly. 

***

Letty walked briskly through the Hospital, her mind set on one goal: to protect Tara. The fluorescent lights above cast a harsh glow on the sterile environment, contrasting sharply with the dark storm brewing within her. As she approached the elevator, she saw Margaret step inside. Letty quickened her pace, slipping in just as the doors began to close.

Margaret looked up, surprised to see Letty, "Letitia," she greeted, her tone cordial but guarded. "I'm glad I ran into you, I've been meaning to speak to you."

Letty hit the button that stopped the elevator's movements, her eyes locking with Margaret's, who looked confused at the girl's actions, "Yeah, me too," she said, her voice low and firm.

Margaret raised an eyebrow, her professional demeanour remained as she adjusted her glasses, "About what?"

Letty simply took a threatening step forward, "Tara." A sinister smirk crossed her lips. 

Margaret's eyes flickered with a hint of unease, "Any issues you may have with a colleague should be addressed through professional standards."

Letty's jaw tightened, "This isn't about professional standards, Margaret. This is about you backing off. You've been riding her too hard, and it stops now."

Margaret crossed her arms, attempting to maintain her composure, "If Tara's work is under scrutiny, it's because it's my job to ensure the highest standards. Personal feelings can't interfere with that," she said, shooting the Morrow girl a look. 

Letty's eyes narrowed, her anger barely containable, "This isn't just about work. You've been targeting her, and we both know why. But here's the thing, Margaret - I'm not gonna let you destroy her."

Margaret scoffed, trying to dismiss Letty's words, "You do not intimidate me, Miss Morrow. You're a child, way out of your depth."

Letty stepped even closer, her voice a dangerous whisper, "Maybe. But you don't know what I'm capable of. Tara's family to me, and family is everything. You keep pushing her, and I promise, you'll regret it," she said, slamming her hand back on the elevator button, starting it up once again, but she remained in place, her narrowed eyes never leaving Margaret. 

The elevator dinged, signalling their arrival at the top floor. Margaret's face paled slightly under Letty's threatening and stern gaze, before the doors slid open, and Letty stepped aside, allowing Margaret to exit. 

Margaret paused, looking back at Letty with a mixture of defiance and apprehension, "Threatening me won't change anything."

"It's not a threat, Margaret. It's a promise. Leave Tara alone, or you'll find out exactly what I'm capable of."

Margaret swallowed hard, then turned and walked down the hallway, her steps hurried and uncertain. Letty watched her go, her resolve unshaken. She knew the risks, but protecting Tara was worth it. As the elevator doors closed again, Letty took a deep breath, ready for whatever backlash followed. 

***

As Letty entered her boyfriend's hospital room, she couldn't help but mutter complaints under her breath about Fiona, who had a knack for showing up at the most inconvenient times, and Letty had just about had enough of her.

"Of all the times to pop up, she chooses now," Letty grumbled, pushing open the door to Juice's room. She stepped inside, her mood softening slightly as she saw Juice resting peacefully.

Juice opened his eyes, a smile spreading across his face as he saw his girlfriend for the second time that day, "Hello again," he greeted, his voice hoarse but filled with warmth.

"Hey," Letty breathed out, a smile gracing her face at the sight of him, leaning down, she planted a gentle kiss on his lips. "I couldn't stay away." 

"Good. I'm glad," Juice smiled, caressing her cheek. 

Letty's expression softened even more, but the frustration she felt earlier quickly resurfaced, "I swear, if I see Fiona Larkin one more time, I'm gonna kill her."

Juice raised an eyebrow, curious, "What happened?"

Letty rolled her eyes, sitting on the edge of the bed, "She's just...I was trying to check on Chibs earlier, and there she was, making herself at home. She drives me nuts."

Juice chuckled softly, shaking his head, "Fiona's got her own way of doing things, that's for sure."

Before Letty could respond, the door to Juice's room opened again, and in walked Fiona, carrying a bouquet of flowers. Letty's eyes widened in disbelief.

"Speak of the devil..." Letty muttered under her breath. "...And she will come."

Fiona paused, glancing between Letty and Juice, "Oh, sorry, sweetie, I didn't realise you had company," she said, her tone polite, but her eyes carried disdain as she glanced over at Letty. 

Letty forced a smile, though it didn't quite reach her eyes, "Trying to step up on my man now. Two ain't enough for you? What are you doing here, Fiona?"

Fiona held up the flowers, "Chibs told me Juice was here too, so I thought I'd bring these by." 

Letty's irritation flared, but she managed to keep her voice calm, "Oh, how thoughtful of you."

Fiona walked over to Juice's bedside table and removed the flowers Letty had bought him a couple days ago, that were now drooping, from the vase on the table, dumping them in the bin, before placing her flowers into the vase with a smile as she readjusted them perfectly, then turned to address a seething Letty, "Tell Filip I'll see him again soon."

Letty's jaw clenched at the woman's words, "What are you really doing here, Fiona?" 

Fiona raised an eyebrow, a hint of a smirk playing on her lips, "Well, you know how it is. Old habits die hard."

Letty took a deep breath, trying to keep her composure, "Yeah, well, some habits need to stay dead."

Juice sensed the tension and gently squeezed Letty's hand, "Thanks for the flowers, Fiona," he said, trying to diffuse the situation.

Fiona nodded, giving Juice a warm smile, before turning back to Letty, "I'll leave you two alone. But remember, there's eyes everywhere," she started, before leaning in closer, placing a hand over her mouth as she whispered. "You should be more careful what you do when you think no one's watching." A sinister smirk crossed Fiona's face as she straightened back up and dropped her hand, "Always a pleasure, Letitia." 

As Fiona walked out, Letty couldn't help but mutter, "Bitch."

Once the door closed, Juice looked at Letty with amusement, "You really don't like her, do you?"

Letty sighed, her frustration evident, "That's an understatement. It's just...I know there's more to her being here than just checking on Chibs."

Juice reached up to cup Letty's face, his thumb brushing gently across her cheek, "Hey, don't let her get to you. We're all dealing with a lot right now. Just focus on what matters."

Letty leaned into his touch, feeling the tension begin to melt away, "You're right. I'm sorry, it's just...been tough lately."

Juice smiled, pulling her closer for another kiss, "I know. But we'll get through it together, baby. I promise."

Letty nodded, her heart swelling with love for the man in front of her, "Yeah, just you and me," she smiled, cupping his face as she leaned over to place a sweet kiss to his lips. 

***

LETTY'S OUTFIT 

CLEO'S OUTFIT 

Letty leaned against the kitchen counter at her childhood home, a pot of sauce simmering on the stove as she absentmindedly stirred it. She was supposed to be helping Gemma cook for the potlatch, but her mind was elsewhere, lost in the text conversation with Juice.

Juice: Hey, babe, just wanted to say I miss you

Letty: Aw, that's so sweet, JuJu. Miss you too

Her phone buzzed with another message, and Letty glanced down to see Juice's name lighting up the screen one again. A smile tugged at her lips as she read his words, feeling a familiar warmth spreading through her.

Juice: Can't stop thinking about you...especially in that cute little nurse's uniform

Letty: Oh, stop it, you!

As she read the messages, Letty couldn't help but blush, feeling a rush of embarrassment at Juice's playful flirtation. She glanced around the room, half expecting Gemma to walk in and catch her in the act.

Juice: Seriously though, you looked so damn hot. Got me all worked up just thinking about...your sweet little lips wrapped around my cock

Letty: Juice, stop! You're gonna make me wet and I'm not alone

Letty quickly composed herself, trying to focus on the task at hand. But every time she looked down at her phone, she couldn't help but smile, feeling a flutter of excitement at the thought of seeing Juice again.

Juice: Haha! Sorry, baby. I forgot about the potlatch. I can't help it, though, you drive me crazy

Letty: Well, you're not so bad yourself, biker boy

Juice: Can't wait to see you again. Maybe I can convince you to wear that uniform for me one more time or maybe that leather lingerie. Now, that was hot. Mm...I'm hard just thinking about it

Letty's breath hitched in her throat as her cheeks burned, while her fingers hovered over the buttons on her phone as she squeezed her legs together, feeling her panties dampening as she felt a familiar tingle. 

Letty: Oh, um...we'll see about that!

Juice: Haha! You're adorable when you're all flustered, baby. I'll let you get back to cooking. Call me when you're alone. I love you xo

Letty: Will do. And I love you too, Juice xo

With a shake of her head and a giggle, Letty tucked her phone away, determined to get back to the task at hand. But as she stirred her famous sauce, her mind kept drifting back to Juice and their playful exchange, a blush still lingering on her cheeks. But at the sight of Tara storming into the house, Letty turned her attention away once more to greet her friend with a wide smile, "Hey," she greeted, looking down with furrowed eyebrows when she saw Tara's empty hands, that was not how potlatch worked. "Thought you were bringing a salad. Gemma's gonna be pissed, she takes her potlatches very seriously." 

"I don't care. I've been a little busy," Tara sneered, the frustration etched on the lines on her forehead. 

"Ew!" Letty pulled a disgusted face, her mind still in the gutter from her text conversation with Juice. "I don't want to know what you and my brother do in the privacy of your bedroom, Tara!"  

Tara shook her head, her face contorting in confusion and disgust, "No, not that. This..." she started, waving a sheet of paper in the air. "...is a hostile work environment claim filed against me by Margaret Murphy!" 

Letty let out a loud laugh, earning an unamused look from Tara, "So?" she chuckled, trying to calm herself down. "I got one too," she said, shrugging nonchalantly. "No big deal." 

"No big deal?!" Tara scoffed in disbelief. "Are you kidding me?!" Her eyes wide. 

"Jeez, and here I thought you might thank me." 

Tara's eyes almost jumped out of their sockets at Letty's statement, "Why would I thank you for threatening our boss?!" she asked, scoffing in disbelief. 

Letty gasped in feigned offence, "I didn't threaten her! I had a passionate conversation with her in the elevator."  

"Is this a joke to you? This is my livelihood we're talking about here!" Tara snapped, looking at her friend in complete and utter disbelief as she gripped the letter tightly. "Do you have any idea how hard I've worked to get to where I am?!" 

"I get it," Letty sighed. "Trust me. I get it," she said with understanding. 

"Do you?" Tara challenged, raising an eyebrow. "Because how you've been acting lately seems like you don't give a damn about your job." 

Letty's eyes narrowed now as her voice lost all amusement or understanding, "The club means everything to me - their my family! My priority above all else! I'm sorry if your daddy issues prevent you from grasping its significance." 

"The club is the club, my life is my life. So, why don't you do us both a favour and stay the hell out of it from now on," Tara sneered, stepping forward as she came face to face with the Morrow girl. 

"Uh, hey?" Cleo greeted awkwardly as she walked in with Lyla, Kenny, Ellie and Kaeden, who's eyes were glued to his iPad. Both Cleo and Lyla were holding a dish they had prepared together earlier, actually excited for the potlatch, both for different reasons; Cleo was excited to spend more time with Opie, and Lyla was just happy to be able to get out of the house for once. But their moods had dampened at the tense atmosphere surrounding Tara and Letty, who were usually thick as thieves, but were currently locked in a heated argument.

Cleo frowned in confusion, sensing the tension as she glanced between Tara and Letty, "Is everything okay?" she asked, her voice filled with concern.

Letty's eyes flashed with anger at the sight of her ex-girlfriend, "Perfect. Are we serving hand jobs for dessert now, ma?!" she called out bitterly to her mother as she motioned to Cleo. 

Lyla's jaw dropped in shock at Letty's words, but Cleo, who was not at all shock, tightened her grip on the dish in her hands, "That's real nice, Letty, in front of the kids," she hissed, her voice sharp with hurt as she slammed her dish down on the table, before storming out of the house.

Lyla's eyes narrowed in anger and disappointment at Letty's behaviour towards her best friend. Lyla knew about Letty and Cleo's history and while she didn't agree with her friend's actions, she also knew how much Letty had hurt Cleo in the past, having been there to pick up the pieces after another breakup between the two girls, "That wasn't very nice. Look, I know Cleo has hurt you in the past, but she's sorry about that and she's really trying to make amends with you, because she cares about Opie. She just wants a chance," she said, trying hard to keep her cool as she placed her own dish down on the table gently, before hurrying after Cleo. "Cle!"

Charming 

2005

The walls of Cleo's apartment felt suffocating as she sat on the couch, her heart shattered into a million pieces by Letty's sudden bombshell. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she tried to process the words that had just been spoken over the phone. Yes, Letty dumped her over the phone. 

Before she could spiral further into despair, there was a knock at the door, and Cleo hesitantly got up to answer it. When she opened the door, her best friend, Lyla, stood there, a sympathetic look on her face and a bag of junk food in her hand.

"Awe, Cle," Lyla said softly, holding out the bag of snacks. "I'm so sorry, sweetie."

Cleo's eyes brimmed with fresh tears as she accepted the bag from Lyla, grateful for her friend's comforting presence, "I don't know what to do, Ly," she admitted, her voice choked with emotion.

Lyla wrapped her arms around Cleo in a tight embrace, holding her close as she whispered words of comfort, "It's okay, Cleo. Let it out. I'm here."

Cleo buried her face in Lyla's shoulder, clinging to her friend as the tears flowed freely once more. Lyla rocked her gently, offering silent support as Cleo processed the pain of Letty's sudden departure.

After a few moments, Cleo pulled back slightly, her eyes red and swollen from crying, "I can't believe she's leaving. I didn't even know she was thinking about college, let alone moving away to LA."

Lyla rubbed Cleo's back soothingly, her heart breaking for her friend, "I know, honey. It's a lot to take in. But you're strong, girl. You'll get through this."

Cleo nodded, taking a shaky breath as she tried to compose herself, "Thanks, Lyla. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Lyla smiled, "Probably crash and burn."

As Cleo and Lyla made their way out of the house, the sound of Harley engines filled the air as the boys pulled up on their bikes.

Lyla grabbed Cleo's arm, stopping her dead in her tracks, "Cle, just ignore her," she urged.

Opie's concerned voice broke through the tension as he approached the two girls, "Cleo, where are you going?"

Cleo turned to face him, "Home. I'm tired of taking this abuse, Ope. Your best friend is an arrogant bitch," she hissed, her frustration evident in her tone. 

Lyla whacked Cleo on the arm, subtly motioning with her head to Jax, who was sending the porn star a murderous glare - no one spoke about his sister that way. But Bobby chuckled, finding the whole thing amusing. 

"Shit," Cleo hissed under her breath as she forced a smile, sending Jax an apologetic look. "Sorry."

Opie turned to Jax, who raised his hands in a 'WTF' gesture. 

"Thanks, brother," Opie said to him, before turning back to address Cleo. 

Jax simple shook his head and started to head towards the house with Bobby, but not without shooting Cleo one last disapproving glare, "Jesus Christ, here we go," he muttered under his breath. "Dinner with mum." 

This elicited another chuckle from Bobby. 

"You can't be saying that shit around Jax," Opie scolded, sighing as he tried to keep his cool, knowing Cleo was hurt and frustrated at the moment. 

"I know," Cleo groaned, rubbing a hand down her face. "I'm sorry." 

Opie sent Lyla a grateful smile as she stepped away to give them some privacy. 

"Hey," Opie cupped Cleo's face as tears started to well in her eyes. "Come on, I'll talk to her," he assured, wiping away the single tear that rolled down her cheek. 

"Yeah," Cleo let out a humourless chuckle. "Like that did any good last time. She hates my guts, Ope," she exasperated. 

Opie sighed, "She doesn't. There's just a lot of shit going on right now. Tensions are high, she's stressed out about Juice and Chibs. Just give her sometime, okay? And please, come inside with me, I'm dying to taste your famous potato bake." 

Cleo couldn't help but smile, "Okay." 

"There's my girl," Opie mused, a bright smile spreading across his face, making Cleo's heart swell - he was truly amazing. Opie wrapped his arm around the girl's shoulders as he started to lead her towards the house. 

***

The atmosphere inside the Morrow house was lively as the potlatch was in full swing. Members of the Samcro family mingled; laughter and conversation filling the air. The scent of delicious food wafted from the kitchen, where Gemma was busy overseeing the preparations.

Letty leaned back against the kitchen counter, sipping her drink, a contemplative look on her face as her gaze occasionally drifted to where Cleo was chatting with Opie.

Jax approached her, a serious expression on his usually easy-going face, "Hey, sis," he began, leaning against the counter beside her. "Can we talk for a sec?"

Letty looked up at him, already sensing the direction of the conversation, "Sure, Jackie. What's up?"

Jax took a deep breath, choosing his words carefully, "Can you ease up on Cleo? For Ope's sake. He seems to really like her."

Letty sighed, her shoulders slumping slightly, "You know I'd do anything for Ope. It's just...why did it have to be Cleo?" she whined, pouted out her bottom lip, before taking another sip of her beer. 

Jax gave her a knowing look, a hint of a smile playing at the corners of his mouth, "I've been asking you the same question for years. I don't know, maybe he sees what you used to see in her. Something I will never understand."

Letty looked over at Opie, who was laughing at something Cleo had said. She could see the light in his eyes, a brightness that had been missing since Donna died. Despite the tension between them, Letty couldn't deny that Cleo had her moments of genuine warmth and kindness. 

"I guess," Letty admitted, her voice softer now. "It's just hard, Jax," she said, sighing. "There's so much history there. And seeing them together, it brings up a lot of old stuff."

Jax nodded, placing a comforting hand on Letty's shoulder, "I get it, sis. But Opie deserves to be happy, and if Cleo makes him happy, maybe it's worth giving her a chance. For his sake."

Letty looked at her brother, seeing the sincerity in his eyes. She knew he was right, and deep down, she wanted Opie to find happiness, even if it meant making peace with Cleo.

"Okay," Letty finally caved, a small smile tugging at the corners of her lips. "I'll try. For Opie," she whined tauntingly, rolling her eyes. 

Jax grinned, pulling her into a quick hug, "That's all I can ask for. Thanks, Letty," he said, placing a kiss on the top of her head. 

As they broke apart, Letty pointed a stern finger at her brother, "But you owe me one, Teller," she stated, her smirk widening. 

Jax chuckled, grinning from ear to ear, "Just put it on my tab." 

But all amusement dropped from Letty's face when Tara walked by them, holding a tray of food, while she shot Letty a glare. 

"What?" Letty hissed, glaring right back at the doctor. 

"Nothing," Tara replied with a sarcastic smirk. 

"If you got something to say, Tara, just say it," Letty said, placing down her beer and pushing off the counter, taking a step closer to the brunette. 

"Okay," Tara nodded, slamming the tray of food down on the dining table. "You could of cost me my goddamn job and you don't even care!" 

Letty scoffed, "You're being dramatic." 

Tara's eyes widened in disbelief, "Dramatic?! You might not care about your job, but I care about mine. It's my livelihood! I can't just crawl back to Daddy and get everything handed to me." 

That's when Letty lost it, clenching her hands into fists, she seethed with anger, launching forward, but just as her fist was about to connect with Tara's cheek, Jax stepped in, grabbing her wrist and pulling her away from Tara, "Don't you ever put a hand on her," he hissed, his grip tight on Letty's arm as a murderous glare crossed his face, his eyes locked on his sister, who looked shocked by his outburst. 

Letty scoffed, shoving him hard in the chest, "Or what?" she challenged, stepping forward, standing face to face with the Vice President of Samcro. 

"What the hell is going on with you?" Jax sneered, shaking his head in disapproval and disbelief at Letty's attitude as of late. 

"Nothing. Absolutely nothing," she shot back, before turning around and storming out of the house, slamming the door behind her, catching everyone's attention. 

Gemma exited the kitchen with a plate of food and a big smile on her face, "Come on, everybody," she called out, trying to ease the tension in the air like the good host she was. "Come on, let's sit down," she encouraged, placing the plate down in the centre of the table. 

Cleo immediately ushered the kids to sit down, before taking a seat herself, not wanting to piss off the queen. 

***

Letty stormed out of Gemma's house, her face flushed with anger and frustration. The argument with Tara and Jax had been intense, each word leaving her emotions raw and her hands trembling. The night air felt cool against her skin, but it did little to soothe the fire burning inside her. She fumbled in her pocket for her cigarettes, finally pulling one out and lighting it with shaky hands. She took a deep drag, the nicotine doing little to calm her nerves.

She leaned against the garage door, her eyes unfocused as she stared into the darkness. Her mind replayed the fight with the couple over and over, each sharp retort and accusation echoing in her ears. She felt a lump form in her throat, but she refused to let herself cry. Not here. Not now.

Lost in her thoughts, Letty didn't notice Lyla standing a few feet away, leaning against a flower bed and smoking her own cigarette. Lyla watched Letty for a moment, sensing her distress. She hesitated, before approaching, unsure if her presence would be welcome.

"Hi," Lyla said softly, breaking the silence. "I know you don't know me very well, but it kind of looks like you could use a hug right now."

Letty glanced up, startled. She studied Lyla's face for a moment, felt the lump in her throat swell, the weight of everything crashing down on her. Before she could respond, Lyla moved closer, slowly and hesitantly wrapping her arms around Letty.

The unexpected gesture broke the dam. Letty's cigarette fell to the ground as she buried her face in Lyla's shoulder, her body shaking with sobs. Lyla held her tightly, rubbing her back soothingly and whispering comforting words.

"It's okay. Just let it out," Lyla murmured, her voice soft and soothing.

"I...I don't know what to do. Everything's such a mess," Letty choked out through her sobs.

"I know, sweetie. But you're not alone. We all have our struggles. You're stronger than you think," Lyla continued to soothe her, her hands running gently through Letty's hair.

Letty clung to Lyla, feeling a sense of relief in the comfort of someone who seemed to understand her pain. 

Their moment was interrupted by the sound of footsteps approaching. Both women turned to see Deputy Chief David Hale walking towards them, his face a mask of grim determination.

Letty wiped her tears with the back of her hand, "Davey?" Letty asked, her brow furrowing in confusion. "What are you doing here?"

Hale swallowed nervously, his eyes darting between Letty and Lyla, "I figured I should tell you this in person," he began, his voice heavy with the weight of bad news. "We just found Luann Delaney off County 18. Beaten to death. I'm so sorry, Letty."

Letty's eyes widened in shock. Though she and Luann hadn't been particularly close, she held her in high regard, often calling her 'Aunty' out of affection and respect. The news hit hard, but it was Lyla who visibly crumbled. Her knees began to give way as the weight of the news crushed her. Luann had been more than a boss to Lyla; she was a mentor, a protector, and a friend.

Letty quickly moved to support Lyla, wrapping her arms around her and holding her up as sobs wracked her body. Hale stood awkwardly for a moment, before excusing himself to inform the others inside.

Lyla clung to Letty, her grief overwhelming, "This can't be real. Luann's dead," she whispered between sobs.

Letty held her tightly, her own tears mixing with Lyla's, "I know. I can't believe it either."

Suddenly, a commotion erupted from inside the house, drawing their attention. Letty and Lyla exchanged a worried glance, before rushing back inside. The scene they walked into was pure chaos. The Sons were fighting, fists flying, and shouts filling the air.

Letty's patience snapped. Storming over to the table, she grabbed a plate of food, and threw it down with all her might, the ceramic shattering into a thousand pieces on the floor. The loud crash caught everyone's attention, and the room fell silent.

Kaeden stood wide-eyed at the sight, "Holy fucking shit, that bitch is crazy," he muttered under his breath. 

Lyla, in one swift motion, slapped her son on the back of the head, "Kaeden!"

The unexpected scolding caused a ripple of laughter to break through the tension, easing the atmosphere. Even in their grief and anger, they found a moment of levity.

***

A/N: 

31/05/2024 

I was admittedly a little lazy this chapter because I didn't want to write the whole fight scene at the end, but I hope you all enjoyed this chapter anyway, I just can't write fight scenes well at all. 

Like always, outfits were made by AI. 

Words: 11760