After a long day they came back to the clubhouse, most members heading to their room with a Croweater, the rest taking a seat at the bar to have a drink. Everyone allowed themselves to relax while having light hearted conversations. Only Jax couldn't relax, not before talking to Chibs. He had to make sure the club was in good hands if he really didn't recover from killing his mother.

His mind didn't seem to let him rest until he finally broached the subject, so he slapped Chibs on the shoulder and motioned him with a nod to follow him. The Scot frowned in confusion, not sure what Jax wanted from him as everything had been discussed for the next few days, and followed the younger one to his room. Jax already had this kind of conversation with Nero a few weeks ago, now he had to talk to Chibs.

“What's goin' on, Jacky boy?”, the Scot asked and leaned against one of the dressers in the room, his fingers closing around the border of the dresser. He could tell something was bothering his brother. “Anything happened, brother?”

“No, not yet”, Jax replied with a deep sigh as he sat down on the edge of his bed, his elbows resting on his knees while he folded his hands in front of his forehead and supported his head by leaning his forehead against his hands. “I need you to promise me something, Chibs. And I need you to let me explain before you say anything, okay?”

Chibs didn't like where this was going. This sounded far too serious and he was sure he was about to lose his shit in a few minutes, yet he nodded. “Aye. Tell me what's goin' on, Jax.”

The blonde sighed again, building himself up internally to gather enough courage before he started to explain what had happened in the last few days, how Gemma was back and how there was a brief problem with Nero. He didn't leave out any detail, after all he wanted Chibs to understand why he had to do what he had to do.

“I know Gemma won't back off, and you know that, too. She won't rest until she gets what she wants”, he paused, a bitter laugh vibrating through his chest. “She tried to kill my Old Lady once, I'm not taking any risks, Chibs. So, I have to make sure Gemma doesn't get a chance to harm Cleo or traumatize my kids anymore.”

“What do you want me t' do?”, Chibs inquired, his forehead wrinkled. He understood why Jax wanted Gemma gone. Cleo was an absolute sweetheart and proved many times what an amazing Old Lady she was just like Dawn and Lyla. Just like Jax, Chibs couldn't let Gemma hurt Cleo. Also for the reason that it would throw Jax off his feet if he actually lost his fiancé and another child.

“After I had the chance to spend a little time with my daughter and getting married, I'm gonna kill Gemma”, Jax lifted a hand as Chibs was about to start an argument, he saw it in the Scot's eyes and how his facial expressions changed. “Let me finish, please. So, there's a chance that it won't bother me at all to put a bullet in my mother's head, which I hope will be the case. But there's also a chance that I won't come back from this. And we both know there's only one way out for me then”, he smiled sadly at his last words and ran a hand over his slicked back hair.

“Then I need you to take my place. I trust everyone here with my life, but I know you would be the perfect choice to run the club. I need to know that Cleo, my kids and the club are in good hands”, he added, his tone so serious and pleading that a chill ran down Chibs' spine.

It didn't happen often, barely never, but tears burned in the older man's eyes as he realized what Jax was saying. The blonde was like a son to him, a son he never had. He had watched him grow from a cheeky little boy to a responsible, strong man who would do anything for his family. The thought of him dying was heartbreaking.

“I don't wan' tha', Jackson. I don't wan' 't sit at the head of the table without you being a part of us anymore”, Chibs voice almost cracked towards the end of the sentence as a wave of sorrow washed over him. “Let Hap or Tig kill her, brother, it's their job.”

Jax shook his head, a tortured smile on his face. It was a rare image to see Chibs, or any of his brothers, getting that emotional. The last thing he wanted was to put anyone in pain, but there simply was no other way.

“I have to do this, Chibs. I won't let anyone live with the guilt of killing my mother. Before she left town, I promised her that if she ever dared to come back, she wouldn't leave town alive a second time. She's crossed a line, as she has so many times⏤ and I have to put an end to all this drama to protect my family”, he explained with a slight shrug.

Chibs pushed himself off the dresser and approached Jax, who he pulled to his feet by his sleeve and grabbed his face tightly.

“Wha' about Cleo, huh?!”, he asked urgently, his voice loud and stern while staring straight into Jax' eyes while he shook the man, hoping to give him a wake up call. “Ya' think she won't be in pain if ye' put an end t' yer life?”

Jax felt his throat closing up as a big lump formed there. Of course he had thought about this already, in how much pain his wife would be. But what choice did he have? The anger and hatred he felt towards Gemma seemed to cloud his mind and only her death could make him think clearly again.

“She will have you guys to get over my death. You, the club, and especially Dawn, Lyla, Enrico and her mom. With all the people by her side, she'll be happy again someday”, Jax reasoned, swallowing hard. “At least she and my kids will be safe then.”

Chibs shook his head after he let go of Jax' face and ran a hand over his mouth and beard, his other hand on his hip while looking around the room to to calm down a bit. He wanted to smack Jax on the head to bring him back to his senses, but a part of him knew it wouldn't help. Once Jax set his mind to something, he would do it. All Chibs could do now was be there for Jax and support him. And to hope that the younger one was able to cope well with the death of his mother.

“Chibs”, Jax spoke up after he gave the Scot a moment to think, his brows furrowed. “I need you to promise me that you're gonna take my place and take care of my family, make sure Cleo gets everything she needs.”

“Aight”, Chibs sighed while he stared at the wood paneled wall before turning around to look at the blonde only to pull him into a hug. “I promise to take care of the club and Cleo.”

At the beginning it was a little weird to have someone around who's related to a Mayan but over the last two years Cleo became family and so did Enrico. Chibs already felt bad for the young woman and couldn't imagine the pain she would going through if Jax really decided to put an end to his life in a few months.

⏤

Cleo sat at a table at with Dawn, Enrico and her mom as they chatted about the two weddings. They made the final decision that they definitely wanted a double wedding. Everyone had thought about it for a while, but nothing was set in stone yet. Enrico and Jax had previously agreed that they wouldn't mind getting married together and Dawn and Cleo couldn't think of anything better.

While the kids sat in a corner in the living room in Enrico's and Dawn's new apartment, playing with their new toys Dawn had bought a few weeks ago when her and Enrico officially moved in together, the adults made a few appointments. Both Dawn and Cleo still needed a wedding dress, which they'd pick out after Cleo gave birth to the baby.  Enrico and Jax would wear their kuttes, and only a white shirt under it, which meant they didn't need an appointment in a wedding fashion store.

“By the way⏤ the wedding dress is on me”, Enrico told Cleo, giving her his familiar 'don't discuss with your older brother' look when the brunette opened her mouth and was about to turn down his offer.

“I can't accept that, Enrico”, Cleo stated sternly. “Even if it's a cheap one, it'll be still expensive.”

“I've been saving money for years for the day my sister gets married. Traditionally, the father of the bride pays for the dress and the party. Since Dad doesn't play a role in our lives, I started saving money years ago. I want you to choose the dress you like. The price doesn't matter”, he told her just as sternly before glancing at his fiancé, nothing but admiration in his eyes. “Same goes for you. I know your Dad already pays for the party but the dress is on me.”

“I never thought I'd be so lucky and get married to a gentleman like you”, Dawn smirked proudly, yet absolute gratefulness lingered in her tone. “I love you, baby.”

Enrico gave her the widest smile, totally in love with the woman next to him, and pulled her in for a kiss. “I love you too, Mi sol [my sun].”

Cleo and Katelynn just awed at that, still surprised about the fact Enrico actually found the woman of his dreams. The thirty three year old never planned on getting a girlfriend, let alone getting married. And now he even thought about starting his own family with Dawn Trager, a Sons daughter.

“Since I also wanted to pay for something but Tig is already paying for the party and Enrico for the dresses, I decided to pay for the wedding cakes. And I want to make the smaller pastries like cupcakes and cookies myself. Is that ok with you guys?”, Katelynn asked curiously, hoping that her kids, Jax and Dawn wouldn't have a problem with that.

The blonde already had a specific design for the cupcakes and cookies in mind and really wanted to do them all by herself. Maybe even with the help of her grandkids. Jax asked her a few months ago if it would be okay for her to take them on as her grandkids since he wanted his boys to grow up with a grandmother. And since their little girl would have Katelynn as grandma, Jax wanted all of his kids to be able to call her that.

Cleo couldn't be happier when she heard Jax wanted to get her mom involved so much. Family was the most important thing for the brunette and Abel and Thomas were like her own children anyway, she wouldn't make a difference between them and her daughter.

“Why wouldn't we be okay with this, mom? I love the idea”, Cleo said genuinely touched, her hand resting on her stomach. “But please, don't spend too much on the wedding cake.”

“Hey, both of my kids are getting married. Let me spend a little money on that”, Katelynn said defensively, a smirk tugging on the corners of her mouth.

“For real, mom, don't spend too much on it”, Enrico chimed in. “But of course I'm just as happy as Cleo. Especially about your homemade stuff.”

He knew his mother didn't have much money. With the costs for the diner and all the stuff she needed, it was almost impossible to save a small amount each month. He knew Cleo's illegal street races back then brought them a lot of money but he was glad his sister wasn't doing them anymore. This shit was dangerous and he hated that he was never able to stop her from doing them. But Jax had managed to stop her and now that she was pregnant, Cleo would never put herself in such danger.

“And I'm looking forward to it too. You and Cleo really have a talent for cooking and baking, I'm sure things will end up looking really beautiful and will taste like heaven”, Dawn smiled sincerly at Katelynn and slipped her hand into Enrico's.

“Oh stop it, I'm just a normal cook who can also bake. It won't be perfect but it'll be made with love”, Katelynn nodded eagerly and gave the three of them a wide smile. “So, the party will be in Charming and Tig said he already has a location, right?”

Cleo nodded at her mother's question and shoved a strawberry, from the plate in the middle of the table that was full with fruits, into her mouth. “Yes, exactly! We don't know much about the location. Tig said it's gonna be a surprise.”

“Oh I hope it is a good one”, Dawn chuckled. She loved her dad with her whole heart but sometimes Tig was weird as hell so she hoped the location wasn't quite as weird as he sometimes is. But she trusted him.

“His babygirl is getting married. I'm pretty sure he picked the perfect location and didn't save a penny”, Enrico winked at her, a smirk plastered on his face.

Since he moved to Stockton after he transferred to the Mayans Stockton Charter to be closer to his mom, Cleo and of course Dawn, he and Tig had spent a lot of time together. The Latino wanted to get to know his fiance's father better and show him that he was a good fit for his daughter, that he would treat her with the respect Dawn deserved.

“I agree with Enrico there. I'm sure Tig really put some thought into the location. And I'm sure Lyla was secretly helping. She always took her job as our bridesmaid serious”, Cleo chuckled. She loved thinking back to the day both Dawn and her asked the blonde to be their bridesmaid. The two women decided to share Lyla since they always had been a great friendship trio.

“I'm sure the two of you are right. And yes, Lyla definitely had her hand in it, no doubt”, Dawn let out a carefree laugh.

The four of them talked a few more things through like the guest list and stuff like that before Enrico decided it was time to order some food for dinner after the kids told them they were hungry. Cleo wished Jax was here too while they ate together and had lots of lighthearted conversations but she knew he was busy today. She just hoped he'd be home later so they could cuddle up and watch a movie or something.

Just when Cleo got up and wanted to get the boys ready to leave, she felt a sharp pain in her abdomen that came out of nowhere. The brunette gripped her brother's arm who happened to stand right next to her, digging her nails into his flesh. Not on purpose, but the pain was almost unbearable.

“Cleo hey”, he quickly supported her when he realized the pain his sister was in. Concerned and panicked at the same time, he called for Dawn and his mom, who immediately came running. “We need to get to the hospital!”

“It's the baby. Someone needs to call Jax!” Cleo writhed in pain and practically clung to Enrico, her face buried on his shoulder as she let out a painful moan as she felt another spasmodic pain in her abdomen. The due date was only a week away. Her gynecologist had already told her last week that the baby could come at any time and that they should be prepared. Her hospital bag was at home, already packed with enough things for her and the baby. But right now she just wanted Jax to get to her as soon as possible.

“I'll call Jax!” Dawn didn't hesitate and dialed Jax' number while Katelynn rushed to her daughter's side. “Get her to the hospital, I'll take care of the boys”, she quickly added before Jax picked up.

While the Trager woman talked to Jax, Enrico and Katelynn got Cleo outside and helped her onto the backseat of her car, their mother never leaving Cleo's side. The Latino ran back inside to get Cleo's bag with her car keys inside, gave Dawn a quick kiss and promised her to call immediately when the baby arrived and then slammed the door behind him to get his sister to the hospital.