💘( Mending the King! )✨

THIRTY FOUR

[ NS ]

( 🤴🔨👸💋💑🏍 )

" You two are like peanut butter and jelly—sticky and hard to separate. "

~ CHUCKIE MARSTEIN to ALU ORTIZ

☆《》¤

THE CLUBHOUSE WAS ALIVE WITH ROARING LAUGHTER, clinking bottles, and music blasting from the jukebox. Alu stood near the bar, a wide smile on her face as she took in the chaos. This was her first SAMCRO party, and the energy was contagious.

Chibs leaned against the bar beside her, raising an eyebrow, "Feelin' overwhelmed yet, lass?"

Alu laughed, taking a sip of her beer, "Overwhelmed? Please. I grew up in chaos. This is just a family barbecue with a bit more leather."

"Atta girl," Tig said as he walked by, slinging an arm around her shoulders. "Let's see if you can keep up, then."

Before she could respond, Half-Sack was calling out to her, while he was setting up a drinking game at one of the long tables.

"Think you can handle this, Alu?" Half-Sack teased, lining up shots of whiskey.

"You're about to find out," she replied, sliding into a chair and cracking her knuckles like a pro.

The rules were simple: take a shot, flip the glass, and keep going until someone passed out or quit. The guys crowded around, placing bets on who'd last the longest.

By the fourth round, Half-Sack was visibly sweating, while Alu leaned back in her chair, looking infuriatingly relaxed.

"C'mon, Sack, you're embarrassing us," Tig called out, laughing as the youngest member fumbled his fifth flip.

"You're killing him, babe," Jax added, watching in awe as he placed a kiss on her cheek, swinging an arm over her shoulders. 

By the eighth round, Half-Sack groaned, slumping forward onto the table as the crowd erupted into cheers. 

Alu stood, raising her arms in victory, "Lightweight," she teased, earning herself a round of applause.

Chibs handed her another beer, "Ye're full of surprises, lass. If Clay wasn't off shaggin' Gemma right now, he'd be handin' you a kutte himself."

***

Alu found Moss near the jukebox, his little feet tapping along to the music. She grinned and held out her hand, "C'mon, dance with me, little man."

Moss' face lit up as he took her hand, and the two of them started spinning and swaying to the beat. The crowd parted, giving them space as they danced, laughter bubbling up between them.

"You've got some moves, Moss!" Bobby called out, clapping along.

"He gets it from me!" Alu shouted back, twirling the boy dramatically.

As the song changed to a slower one, Jax appeared, leaning against the edge of the jukebox, "Mind if I cut in?" he asked politely, nodding at Moss.

Moss shrugged, already running off toward his tío Juice, who was trying to avoid his sister. 

Jax took Alu's hand, pulling her close as the slow song filled the room. For a moment, it was just the two of them, swaying together in the dim light.

"You're pretty good at this," Alu teased.

"Pretty good?" Jax smirked, his hands settling on her hips. "I'll show you pretty good."

As the music picked up, their movements shifted. Sweet turned sultry, swaying turned to grinding, and suddenly the room wasn't so dim anymore.

"Get a room!" Tig hollered from the bar, earning a wave of laughter from the crowd.

"You're distracting everyone from their drinking," Chibs added, shaking his head but grinning.

Jax and Alu pulled apart just long enough to laugh, before Jax dipped her low, stealing another kiss to the sound of whistles and cheers.

Standing upright again, Alu grinned, her cheeks flushed, "Well, at least we're entertaining."

"You're stealing the show, babe," Jax replied, pulling her in for one last spin as the music faded into something faster.

***

Alu was back at the bar, sharing a laugh with Chibs and Tig as Moss dozed off in a booth nearby, clutching his favorite toy.

"First party, and you're already the talk of the club," Chibs said, tipping his beer toward her.

Alu smiled, her gaze drifting to Jax, who was laughing with the guys but kept sneaking glances her way.

"Not bad, huh?" she replied.

"Not bad at all," Tig said, raising his glass. "To Alu, SAMCRO's new queen of chaos."

She laughed, clinking her bottle with theirs, feeling like she'd finally found her place in the world. 

***

Alu leaned against the bar, her eyes scanning the crowd until they landed on Juice. He was nursing a beer on the other side, his gaze distant, his posture stiff.

Taking a deep breath, Alu pushed off the counter and approached him, "Hey," she said casually, her tone soft but hopeful.

Juice barely glanced at her, his jaw tightening as he turned and walked away without a word. Her chest tightened as she watched him stride across the room, grabbing a willing crow eater by the waist and whispering something in her ear. The girl giggled, and Juice led her toward the hallway that led to the dorms.

Alu swallowed hard, blinking away the sting of tears welling in her eyes as she turned back to the bar. Chuckie, who had been quietly polishing glasses behind the counter, stepped around to her side, his face etched with concern.

"He's still not talking to you, huh?" Chuckie said, his voice low and gentle.

"Nope," Alu replied, trying to keep her voice steady. She forced a laugh, though it sounded hollow, "Last time he was this mad at me, we were six, and I beat him at Monopoly. He didn't talk to me for three days. It's been a week...he hates me." 

Chuckie offered a small smile, tilting his head, "I find that hard to believe. You two are like peanut butter and jelly—sticky and hard to separate."

"Feels like he does," she muttered, fiddling with the edge of her drink coaster. "And honestly, maybe he should. I messed up, Chuckie. Big time."

Chuckie reached out, his hand resting gently on her shoulder, "Juice loves you. You're his sister. His best friend. He's just hurt right now. Give him some time to cool off. He'll come around."

She looked up at him, her lips trembling into a weak smile, "Thanks, Chuck."

"Anytime," he said, stepping back behind the bar. "Now, what can I get you? Something strong, maybe?"

"Yeah," she said with a small laugh. "I think I'm gonna need it."

As Chuckie poured her a drink, Alu cast another glance toward the hallway where Juice had disappeared. Her heart ached, but a tiny spark of hope flickered, due to Chuckie's words. Maybe he was right. Maybe Juice just needed time.

***

The dorm room was dimly lit, the faint thump of the party outside muffled by the walls. Juice pressed the crow eater against the edge of the bed, his hands gripping her hips as he thrust into her with a roughness that made her gasp.

He wasn't here for her. Not really. This wasn't about her moans or the way she arched her back to meet his movements. This was about drowning out the chaos in his head, the images of Tabitha's lifeless body, the betrayal that clung to every thought of Alu. 

His jaw clenched, his focus flickering between the physical act and the storm in his mind. He remembered the way Alu had looked at him earlier, her eyes full of hope, like she could fix everything with a conversation. Like her involvement in Tabitha's death wasn't a weight crushing him.

The crow eater moaned loudly, clawing at the sheets, but it barely registered. Juice tightened his grip on her hips, driving into her harder, his teeth gritted. The harder he pushed, the more he wanted to believe he could shake the memories loose, shove them into some dark corner where they couldn't haunt him.

But it didn't work. Tabitha's face wouldn't leave him. The trust he'd had in Alu—the unshakeable bond they'd once shared—felt shattered, jagged pieces cutting into him with every thought.

The crow eater cried out again, her pleasure echoing off the walls, and Juice forced his mind to focus. On the sounds, on the movement, on anything but the ache in his chest.

He leaned forward, burying his face in her shoulder, trying to lose himself in the moment. But even as his body moved on autopilot, his heart stayed tethered to the pain. And when it was over, when the crow eater collapsed onto the bed with a satisfied sigh, Juice felt nothing but emptiness.

Silently, he pulled on his jeans, grabbing a beer from the small fridge in the corner. The crow eater tried to pull him back down to feels his arms around her, but he shook his head.

"Just...give me a minute," he muttered, leaning against the wall and staring at the ceiling, his thoughts once again consumed by the betrayal he couldn't escape.  

Seven Years Ago 

The knock at Juice's dorm door was frantic, almost panicked. He glanced up from his desk, the glow of his laptop casting shadows across the room. He wasn't expecting anyone, especially this late.

When he opened the door, his heart dropped. Tabitha stood there, tears streaming down her face, her body trembling. Her usually angelic eyes were red and swollen, and her hair clung to her face in damp strands.

"Tabi?" he asked, shocked. "What the hell? What's going on?"

She didn't say a word, just collapsed into him, clutching at his hoodie like it was the only thing keeping her grounded. Juice instinctively wrapped his arms around her, pulling her inside and kicking the door shut behind her.

"Hey, hey," he whispered, guiding her to his bed and sitting her down gently. "You're scaring me. What's wrong, baby?"

She shook her head, her sobs muffling her words, "I—I screwed everything up, Ju."

He crouched in front of her, his hands on her knees, steadying her, "What do you mean? Talk to me."

It took a while for her to calm down. He sat beside her, rubbing her back, offering her tissues, and just letting her cry it out. When her breathing finally steadied, she looked at him with a mixture of guilt and desperation.

"I didn't know where else to go," she said, her voice hoarse. "I just needed to see you." 

"Baby, what's going on? What happened?" 

She hesitated, her hands twisting together in her lap, "I made a deal," she finally said.

"A deal?" Juice repeated, confused.

"With the Feds," she whispered, her voice cracking. "I—I've been working with them. Feeding them information about Oscar and his crew."

Juice's blood ran cold, "What?! Why would you—!"

"To protect Alu!" she interrupted, her voice rising in anguish. "Oscar's poison, Juan. You know that. He was dragging her down, and I couldn't just stand back and watch it happen. So, when the feds showed up at my door, I thought...I thought I could stop it. Stop him once and for all." 

Juice sat back, running a hand through his hair—he couldn't believe what he was hearing, "Tabitha...Jesus Christ, baby. Do you know what he's gonna do to you if he finds out?"

She nodded, tears spilling over again, "I know. And now I've screwed everything up. They're onto me, babe. Alu knows. She over heard me on the phone. And I think Oscar suspects something too. He was eyeing me off the other night. I just...I don't know what to do." 

Juice's heart ached for her. He could see the pain and fear in her eyes, but he knew she'd done it all for the right reasons, "I'll fix it," he said firmly, taking her hands in his.

She looked at him, her brow furrowed, "You can't fix this, baby. I'm in too deep—it's too dangerous."

"I don't care," he said with a fierce determination laced in his voice. "I'll get you out of this, baby. I'll figure something out. Okay? I'm gonna protect you. No one is gonna hurt you," he declared, cupping her face and looking deep into her forest green eyes. 

Her lips quivered, and she leaned forward, resting her forehead against his, "How'd I get so lucky," she whispered.

"I'm the lucky one," he said, his voice soft.

For a moment, they stayed like that, their breaths mingling. Then, almost instinctively, their lips met.

The kiss was desperate, filled with all the emotions they couldn't put into words. When they finally pulled away, Tabitha looked at him with tearful eyes.

"I love you, Juan Carlos Ortiz. Now and forever," she said, her voice barely audible.

"I love you too, Tab," he said, his voice raw and unsteady. "More than anything. You're my always, okay? No matter what happens, no matter how messed up things get...it's you and me."

In that moment, everything else faded away. It was just the two of them, holding onto each other, clinging to the hope that somehow, some way, they'd make it through anything life through there way together. 

Alu stepped into the clubhouse kitchen, the faint smell of coffee lingering in the air. Gemma stood at the sink, sleeves rolled up, washing dishes. Alu hesitated for a moment, before clearing her throat, "Need a hand?" she asked, stepping closer.

Gemma glanced over her shoulder, raising an eyebrow, "You offering?"

Alu nodded, "Yeah. Least I can do."

Gemma shrugged, handing over a dish towel, "Dry."

The two women worked side by side in silence for a few minutes, the sound of running water and clinking plates filling the space. Alu wasn't sure if she should break the quiet, but before she could, Gemma spoke.

"I'm glad you got your boy back," Gemma said softly, her tone surprisingly warm. "Moss...he's a good kid."

Alu glanced at her, surprised by the compliment, "Thanks. He is a good kid." She hesitated, drying a plate before adding, "I'm sorry about Tara. And the baby."

Gemma's hand paused mid-rinse, her expression darkening, "Don't be sorry," she said, her voice sharper now. "She didn't even tell Jax she was pregnant. Just went and did it. Like he didn't matter."

Alu bit her lip, unsure how to respond. She nodded slightly, deciding silence was the best option.

Gemma sighed, her hands resuming their work, "Sorry. Didn't mean to unload that on you."

"It's okay," Alu replied, taking another plate from her.

They continued in silence for a few more minutes, before Gemma spoke again, her tone softer this time, "You know, I like you."

Alu raised an eyebrow, surprised again, "You do?"

"Yeah." Gemma smirked. "You've got guts. You're tough, take care of your own. Reminds me of someone I know."

Alu chuckled lightly, "Should I take that as a compliment?"

"You can take it any way you like," Gemma replied, a small smile tugging at her lips.

They finished the last of the dishes, and Gemma wiped her hands on a towel, before turning to Alu, "You ever need advice, or just someone to tell you the blunt honest truth, you know where to find me."

Alu smiled, "Thanks, Gemma. I appreciate that."

Gemma nodded, "Good. Now go check on that boy of yours. If he's anything like his mother, I bet he's already causing trouble."

Alu laughed as she left the kitchen, feeling like, for the first time, she'd earned a place in Gemma's world.

***

Words: 2573