SHAY NEEDED A FEW DAYS AWAY FROM CHARMING she decided, a few days away from the drama that surrounded her life at the moment. So, while the club went on a run she decided that Leela and her would go to Tacoma for a few days to visit Natalie and Kozik.

She had yet to tell Jax of her plans, but Shay was on her way to Teller-Morrow  to meet up with Opie who was finally back in town after being gone for a few months, and then she'd surprise the SAMCRO VP with her plans. Of course he would try and stop her or insist she wait for him to get back so he would go with her and Leela as well but Shay wouldn't let him stop her. She needed time alone.

After Tara's late night visit Shay had started to ignore Jax only seeing him when it was time to drop Leela off with him or Gemma planned a big dinner. Even then she spent her time talking to everyone else but Jax. Shay knew everyone noticed her purposely ignoring him and the tension between them, no one asked questions about it even Gemma who stopped once Jax told her it was none of her concern.

The lot of TM was full as Shay pulled in, a smile took over her face as she spotted Opie smiling and talking with Jax. It had been too long since she last saw Opie and she only hoped his time away helped clear his mind. Kenny and Ellie had lost their mom they didn't need to loose their dad as well.

"The giant returns!" Shay teased looking over at Opie with a smile as she exited her car. Gemma had taken Leela for the day, the older woman knowing about Shay's plans and while Shay knew Gemma could easily tell Jax of her plan before she got the chance she still trusted the woman not to.

"How was the open road?" Shay asked as she approached the lumberjack of a man, immediately throwing her arms around him once she reached him.

Opie instantly wrapped his arms around the Miller woman holding her tight. The hug was so much more than just a welcome home hug. It was a thank you for everything hug. Opie appreciated Shay for stepping in and taking care of his kids when he needed. He knew how much Shay also suffered when Donna died.

"It was good. I needed it." Opie stated matter of factly as he released his tight hold on Shay. "How's everything been?" He raised an eyebrow while looking at the dark haired woman.

It didn't go unnoticed to Opie that Shay had yet to greet Jax or even look at him. Opie knew some of why the tension was thick between the two Jax had been catching him up on the current situation when Shay pulled into the lot.

"It's been alright." Shay shrugged. "I'm going to Tacoma to visit Nat and Kozik for a few days." She smiled, doing everything in her power to not look over at Jax his eyes were burning a hole in the side of her face.

"What? When?" Jax's jaw tightened as he stated at the dark haired woman. This was news to him.

The tension between him and Shay was becoming unbearable. They didn't talk only seeing each other when she dropped Leela off or when his mom planned family dinners — even then she ignored him. He understood why he had made the decision to ruin her relationship without talking to her. He opened his mouth without thinking hoping his confession to Tara would end them once and for all, but all it did was cause more problems for him.

"Tomorrow." Shay shrugged as she finally looked over at Jax. He looked more tense then usual and in a way that made Shay feel good. It was his fault all of this was happening.

"What the fuck!" Jax yelled as he ran a hand over his face. Were all the women in his life trying to kill him?

"Uh, I'll see you later." Opie placed a hand on Shay's shoulder giving her a small smile. "I'll be there to pick up the kids tonight." He added before patting Jax on the back and leaving the two alone.

Shay scratched at her forehead as she waited for Jax to explode on her. If he wanted a fight she'd give him one. She had been too calm when confronting him about Tara, but now after days and letting it stew  inside of her she was ready to call him out.

"You're leaving tomorrow and you fuckin' decide to just say something now." Jax spoke through clenched teeth as he pulled a cigarette from his pocket and quickly lit it.

"You know we're going on a run and we can't spare anyone to go with you. You're gonna go alone with my daughter up to Tacoma? You think that's smart?" His tone grew condescending as he looked at Shay.

A scoff left Shay'a mouth at Jax's words. She hated this side of him — the controlling side. If there was one thing Shay hated it was being controlled especially by a man.

"I'm very fucking capable of taking our daughter to Tacoma by myself. I don't need a fucking bodyguard.  Don't fucking talk down to me like I'm a child, Jackson." Shay kept her tone cool and calm but inside there was a rage burning.

"What's your fucking problem? Huh? You haven't talked to me in days! I apologized to you for the Tara shit." Jax ran a hand over his hair as he stared into Shay's cold blue eyes. He could see the hurt and betrayal in them and it hurt to know he caused it.

A sarcastic laugh fell from Shay's lips. "Oh, you apologized! Okay everything is fucking great now! You're such a fucking asshole." How dense could he be? She knew he was blonde but could he really be this blonde?

"You went behind my fucking back and told Tara about us all because you wanted out of your shitty relationship. I would never do that to you! If you wanted out you should of just broke up with her like a normal fucking person, Jax. Now look at you having another kid! Do you not know what a condom is?! So congratulations you didn't end a shitty relationship you're stuck with Tara for at least eighteen years." 

The angry words spilled from Shay's mouth faster than she could comprehend. She had been holding it all in since Tara payed her that late night visit revealing her pregnancy and Jax's betrayal. It hurt — all of it.

Gemma often asked her why Jax and her weren't together raising Leela and Abel together and playing house and this was why. Jax wouldn't and couldn't fully commit to himself to her and Shay wouldn't be some old lady wondering if Jax was cheating on her every run or getting some crow eater pregnant every chance he got. Sure, it sounded hypocritical knowing the situation she got herself into, but things were different then — or maybe they weren't.

Jax was silent as he took in Shay's words. He knew she was right about all of it, but his stubbornness refused to let him say that.

"You're just scared she told Benny boy about us and his image of you will change." Jax scoffed as he tossed his cigarette to the pavement.

A humorless laugh left Shay's mouth as she nodded. She didn't know if Tara had gone to Ben and revealed to him and her and Jax's infidelity. If she had Ben hadn't said a word about it, but Ben had a good poker face and maybe he was waiting for the perfect moment.

"Fuck you." Shay spat before turning on her heel and walking off towards her car, peeling out of TM throwing a middle finger towards Jax as she left.

A sigh left Jax's mouth as he watch Shay leave, that didn't go the way he wanted at all. He ran a hand over his face groaning at the sound of police sirens entering the lot.

"What the fuck." Jax muttered as he watched Ben exit his police vehicle with Hale not too fair behind.

________

BEN WATCHED FROM AFAR AS SHAY'S car finally pulled out of Teller-Morrow automotive. When Tara Knowles showed up to his house late last night he was scared something bad had happened to Shay or Leela, but when she spilled the news of Jax and Shay's affair it broke him.

Ben wouldn't say he was surprised by the doctor's news. He saw the way they looked at each other and while Shay swore they were just best friends who happened to have a child together — Ben knew it was more.

The love he had for not only Shay but Leela was big that he wanted to marry Shay and start a family with her — even now. Jax Teller wasn't going to come between his plans.

"She's driving a little fast. Guess it wasn't a good talk." Hale commented as Shay's car sped off down the street.

Ben nodded at Hale's words. The Costello man trusted David Hale— he was his best friend after all. It was their common hatred of SAMCRO that formed such a close bond. While David tried to bring down SAMCRO believing the promises of any ATF agent that came to town and who could never deliver, Ben watched from afar as the club would eventually ruin themselves— it was only a matter of time.

The bearded cop looked around the street for a moment before turning on the vehicle and switching on the sirens and pulling into the lot of TM, a smirk forming on his face as he saw Jax's face.

"Benny boy." A smug smirk replaced the exhausted on Jax's face as he watched Ben walked towards him with Hale not far behind. "What do I owe the pleasure?" He questioned raising an eyebrow at the man.

Ben placed his hands on his hips as he walked towards Jax, well aware of the other SAMCRO members making their way out of the garage and clubhouse.

"It's officer Costello." Ben reminded as he stood in front of the blonde biker with a smug smirk on his own on his face. "I'm only here for a quick chat. No need to worry." He told the crowd that had gathered as Hale tried to keep everyone calm.

"Chat away, Benny boy." Jax smirked as he crossed his arms across his chest.

"Stay the fuck away from Shay." He spoke through clenched teeth, warning in his tone. "Oh yeah the good doctor spilled the news." He added as he watched the smugness fall from Jax's face. "Shay and Leela don't need your bullshit. So back the fuck off." He warned placing a hand on Jax's shoulder.

A small laugh left Jax's throat. "Don't fucking touch me and don't tell me what to do." He shrugged Ben's hand off of him.

"Well, have a good day." Ben smiled as he turned on his heels and headed back to his vehicle.

"That went well." Hale stated with sarcasm as he entered the vehicle, looking at Ben's tense jawline.

Ben ignored Hale's words as he glared at a laughing Jax before pulling out of the SAMCRO filled lot. He hope his words stuck with the prince of Charming, but he had a feeling they wouldn't. Jax Teller was going to be a problem as he always has been.

________

SHAY WATCHED AS KENNY AND ELLIE finished packing their bags with sad faces. It was hard knowing she was going to have the two extra kids all the time any longer. She had grown use to helping them with their homework and movie nights. Of course she knew they belonged with Opie, but it didn't lessen the pain.

"Don't look so sad you guys can come over anytime you want. We can have sleepovers and do movie nights still." Shay assured the two kids with a smile as they looked up at her with sad eyes.

"We can?" Kenny asked as he placed the last of his clothes into his suitcase. Kenny had taken over as man of the house since moving in with Shay. He loved being like an older brother to Leela and was always watching out for the girls of the house.

"Of course!" Shay laughed as she ruffled his hair. "Leela and I would miss you both too much if you never came back over."

"Do you think dad is ready to take care of us?" Ellie's voice was low and it took Shay a second to process the question but when she did a sigh left her lips.

To be honest, Shay wasn't so sure if Opie could handle being a single father. She wasn't questioning his skills — he was a good father. It was just Donna had been the one to do most of the raising of Kenny and Ellie, and while Opie looked better to her when she saw him earlier it did make her a little weary to throw the kids back with him full time to quickly.

"I think your dad is going to do his best. I think your dad loves you and is doing much better now. Will he have his bad days? Of course. We all do." Shay told the young girl honestly as she gave her a comforting smile.

"Thank you." Ellie wrapped her arms Shay's waist with Kenny quickly following her actions.

Shay nodded wrapping her arms tightly around the children. She understood what the young girl's thank you meant and she appreciated it. There were times when Shay thought she was doing a terrible job at being a mother, but with the additions of Kenny and Ellie it made her realize maybe she was too hard on herself.

A knock on the door pulled the three apart and Shay made her way towards the door while Ellie and Kenny finished packing.

"Hey, Ope." She smiled at the man before stepping aside to let him inside. "They're just finishing packing up." She explained as she watched him looking around the living room for them.

"Okay. Thank." He muttered nervously while rubbing the back of his neck. He had been so excited to see his kids again but now as he stood in Shay's house waiting to take them home he was scared it was too soon. Maybe they should just stay with Shay.

"Opie, don't worry. You got this." Shay assured him, placing a hand in his arm. She could tell he was nervous just like his kids were. "I'm always here if you need me. I'm never going to give up on those kids or you. If you need me to take them for a night or two I will. I love those kids. They're a part of Donna and I love Donna." She spoke with tears forming in her eyes.

Opie nodded, tears of his own forming in his eyes. "Thank you, Shay. You've done so much for me and my family and I don't think I'll ever be able to repay you."

"I don't want you to repay me, Ope."

Opie nodded deciding not to say another word as he heard Kenny and Ellie'a footsteps coming down the hall.

"Hi, dad." They spoke in unison with small smiles on their faces.

"Hi." Opie smiled as he walked towards them, pulling them both into tight hugs. "I missed you."

Shay smiled at the scene in front of her, quietly slipping away as she let Opie and his kids get reacquainted. At least there was some happiness in this shitty day.

________

AN —

I think this is one of my longest chapters. Shay is definitely going to get into some shit while she's in Tacoma and Tara will definitely be back. Thank you for all of the votes and comments !