✎ 𝐂𝐇𝐀𝐏𝐓𝐄𝐑 𝐄𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓 ━━━━ 𝐇𝐄𝐋𝐋𝐎, 𝐌𝐘 𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐄 𝐈𝐒 𝐓𝐑𝐎𝐔𝐁𝐋𝐄

SHAY'S VOICE WAS SOFT AS SHE SAT IN A ROCKING CHAIR READING TO ABEL. It made The Miller woman jump with joy to see how well he was doing in just a few short weeks. He was growing and looking healthier with each day that passed. It was beginning to look very hopeful that he would be able to leave the hospital soon.

"You're getting so strong little man." Shay smiled while closing the book, placing it on her lap. "You're definitely a Teller." The raven haired woman said with a small laugh as she stared down at Abel.

Abel was so young yet already had been through so much in his short life. The need to protect him was a strong feeling and one she had felt since finding out Wendy was pregnant. Shay knew she would love and treat Abel as if he were her own. There was no doubt in her mind that he was going to need a stable mother figure in his life.

"Your dad should be here soon." Shay mumbled as her blue eyes looked up at the large clock on the beige wall.

Shay's blue eyes wandered over to the large window, hoping to see Jax standing on the other side with his famous Teller smirk on his face, instead stood a tall man with salt and pepper hair with a smile on his face as he stared at Abel.

The Miller woman's forehead furrowed at the unknown man, a chill instantly taking over her body at the twisted smile on his face. There was something about the man that screamed psychopath to her.

"I'll be back little man." Shay promised before quickly standing up from the rocking chair, making her way towards the exit.

"Can I help you?" She questioned, raising an eyebrow towards the man while crossing her arms across her chest. "Are you a doctor?"

Shay had been at St. Thomas enough times to know this man wasn't a doctor - at least one of Abel's. Charming was a small town and Shay knew everyone who lived there, and this man standing in front of her was someone she had never set eyes on a day in her life.

"No, no." The man shook his head a slight chuckle leaving his lips. "I was just admiring what a beautiful family you have." He stated while turning his attention onto Shay.

There was something in his voice that made Shay's blood turn cold. His voice held almost a threatening tone to it.

"You're not allowed back here." Shay stated with an edge to her tone. "It's family only." The irony of using the same sentence that Tara had said to her a few days earlier not going unnoticed by Shay.

"Of course it is." He nodded. "Have a good night." He smiled, taking one last look towards Abel before walking off down the long brightly lit hallway.

The Miller woman watched him as he walked off, a bad feeling growing in the pit of her stomach. Shay had no fucking clue who he was, but she could feel it in her bones that he was trouble, and whenever there was trouble SAMCRO wasn't too far behind.

▂▂▂▂▂

A SIGH PASSED THROUGH SHAY'S LIPS as she stood underneath the chili tent with Gemma. The Taste of Charming fundraiser was tonight and Shay had promised Gemma she would help, but this was honestly the last place she wanted to be right now.

Jax had shown up at the hospital not much longer after the strange man had left. Which Shay had opted not to tell him about. At least not yet. There was no point in worrying Jax about some random creep when he had enough shit going on in his life already. It wasn't the strange encounter from last night that made Shay not want to be here it was the kiss with Jax before she left the hospital last night that made her not want to be here.

It was just a quick kiss on her lips as she said goodnight, but the feeling of Jax's lips lingered on hers long after. It was stupid, just a simple kiss goodnight but she had decided not to tell Ben about this 'stupid' kiss, their relationship had been a little strained since that night at St. Thomas and she didn't want to put anymore strain on it. Especially for a stupid kiss between best friends.

I'm gonna kill him." Gemma hissed, her voice breaking through Shay's thoughts. "Do you have bail money, because I'm seriously going to kill Bobby." The older brunette eyed Shay with nothing but seriousness in her eyes.

"I always have bail money." Shay muttered. There was no joking in her voice. She had learned long ago to always have bail money ready whenever possible. You never knew when SAMCRO was going to need it.

"I've taught you well." Gemma said with pure pride in her voice, forgetting about killing Bobby for a moment.

Shay's eyes wandered around the parking lot as Gemma continued to rant about Bobby and his lateness. It didn't long for her blue eyes to take notice of the same salt and peppered haired man from last night flipping burgers at the booth across the way from Gemma's. Shay kept her eyes on him as he smiled and laughed with the people of Charming. Her forehead furrowed in confusion as she noticed Tara Knowles walking towards the booth only to stop short and quickly walk in the opposite direction.

"Gem, I'll be back. I'm gonna go check on Leela and Ben." The raven haired woman said, pulling her apron off and tossing it onto the table.

Shay didn't even bother to wait for Gemma'a response before she swiftly made her way towards where she had seen Tara walk off to. It couldn't just be a coincidence that Tara practically run the other way when she saw him.

"Hey, Tara!" Shay called out, hoping to slow the brunette down.

"What do you want?" Tara sighed as she slowed down her pace a bit, allowing the raven haired woman to catch up with her.

The two women had not grown any fonder of each other. Especially since Jax had (not in so many words) told Tara to stop being a bitch and let Shay visit Abel whenever she wanted to. It definitely didn't help Tara like The Miller woman — not that she liked her at all anyway.

"Who's that guy?" Shay didn't see the point in small talk — not with Tara Knowles at least.

"What guy?" Tara asked, opting to play dumb. There was no way she was going to tell Shay Miller of all people about Josh Kohn.

A scoff left Shay's mouth, "Don't play stupid, Tara. You might be a lot of things but stupid isn't one of them."

"How about you mind your own business, Shay. Do you think you can do that for once?" Tara questioned rhetorically as she stared into Shay's blue eyes.

A low sarcastic laugh passed through Shay's lips as she stared into Tara's eyes. That feeling of rage building up in her body as she stared at the brunette doctor.

"I get it. You have secrets. We all do, but I'm telling you right now Tara, if your secrets even so much as touch my family and that includes Jax too. I will make sure you never step foot in Charming ever again." Shay warned as a sweet smile took over her face.

"Is that a threat?" Tara scoffed.

"No. It's a fucking promise." Shay said before turning on her heel, walking away from the brunette.

▂▂▂▂▂

NIGHT HAD TAKEN OVER AS SHAY STOOD WITH LEELA on her hip waiting for Opie to set off the fireworks. Gemma had informed her that Kyle Hobart had showed his face and still had his Reaper tattoo, but Opie and Jax took care of that. Shay wasn't quite sure what that meant and she really didn't want to know either. All she knew was that once the fireworks were over she was going home.

"Where's Ben?" Gemma questioned as she stood next to the raven haired woman with a raised eyebrow. Gemma hadn't seen much of Ben today and that's the way she liked it.

"He decided to leave early." Shay said as she scratched at her forehead.

"It sounds like there's some trouble in paradise." Gemma commented, a small smirk forming on her lips at the thought.

Shay shook her head, thankful that Gemma's phone had began to ring. The Miller woman ignored Gemma's hushed talking as she placed a kiss on the top of Leela's head.

"Shay." Gemma's voice pulled Shay from her thoughts.

"What?" She questioned, turning her head to look at the SAMCRO Queen.

"I need to find April Hobart."

"Why?" Shay asked, confusion taking over her face.

At Gemma's silence Shay understood. Kyle was suppose to black out his Reaper tattoo the day he was excommunicated from SAMCRO, but he never did. So, the club had made him choose. Shay had seen it done once before when she was younger and it was a horrific scene to walk in on.

The fireworks finally went off as loud booms and colors filled the dark sky. Leela let out excited filled giggles as her eyes watched the colorful sky in amazement. Shay watched her daughter with a small smile on her face, watching the amazement in her eyes each time a firework went off. The smile quickly fell from her face as she followed closely behind Gemma looking for April Hobart.

Those small moments of amazement went by quickly in this life, and lately it seemed like they were getting harder and harder to find. At least for Shay.

__________

A/N: Thank you so much for the votes, views, and comments!