T.O. CROSS LEANED AGAINST HIS BIKE with his nephew and his Sergeant-at-Arms on either side of him. The three Grim Bastards were waiting for Jax Teller and the rest of SAMCRO to arrive. The President of SAMCRO had called T.O. asking for his help on a situation and the Cross man was happy to help, but his mind was elsewhere as he stood in the hot sun.

A sigh left his mouth as he began to grow impatient with SAMCRO. His daughter and grandson were arriving today and T.O. wanted to be home when they got there. Drea had gone through so much in a short few months — her boyfriend being locked up for essentially his life, having to sell her beloved home and drain her saving account to afforded a good lawyer for him only for it to prove pointless.

"Teller always takes his sweet fuckin' time." Roman Duncan — the Grim Bastards Sergeant at arms complain as he kicked at a rock on the dusty ground. "The Prince of Charming always keeps us fuckin' waitin' like we're his dogs." Roman didn't mind his President's friendship and alliance with SAMCRO, but he did mind waiting on Jax Teller.

"You're always fuckin' complaining, Rome." Drew Cross rolled his eyes at his best friend. "It's not like we have anything better to do today." He shrugged while rubbing a hand over his buzz cut.

"Both of you shut the fuck up." T.O. sighed. He couldn't deal with the bickering from his nephew and right hand man right now. He was too focused on getting this meeting over and getting home as quick as possible.

The roar of multiple motorcycles fell over the sudden quietness between the three men. T.O. quickly stood up straight and watched a SAMCRO made their way towards them.

"Fuckin' finally." Roman muttered, watching as Jax Teller dismounted his bike and made his way towards them with his infamous smirk on his face and the scarred Scottish man following close behind.

"T.O." Jax patted the man on the back. "Sorry to keep you waitin'. We had a few things to take care of first." Jax explained as he nodded towards Drew and Roman.

"Not a problem. So, what do you need our help for?" The Grim Bastards President was curious on what SAMCRO or more importantly what Jax Teller needed from him.

Jax rubbing a hand over his face, a sigh escaping his lips. "We got a little problem in Oakland with the Mayans. It looks like Alvarez is trying to step on our toes."

When Jax took over SAMCRO after Clay couldn't ride anymore, he had thought the Mayans and SAMCRO were on decent terms — a truce of sorts— but he quickly found out that wasn't the case.

"What do you need from us? Because this sounds like a your problem not an us problem." Roman was quick to speak as he glared at the blonde biker.

A chuckle fell from Jax's lips. The Grim Bastards Sergeant at arms hadn't been a big fan of him for years and vice versa. Jax found Roman Duncan to be arrogant and quick to jump to anger.

"I'm talkin' to your President, Rome." Jax mocked the man with a smirk on his face. "If I wanted you to speak I'd have addressed you."

"Listen you—" Rome began as he stood closer towards Jax.

"Shut up, Roman." T.O. pushed the man back with a warning in his eyes. "Jax, let's take a walk." He suggested hoping to defuse the brewing situation.

Jax nodded, taking his blue eyes off of the seething man. "I'm sorry about that." Jax apologized as the two Presidents walked away from the small group.

T.O. waved a hand dismissing Jax's apology. "It's fine. Rome has been a bit on edge lately." The man explained. "Tell me what you need from the Grim Bastards, Jax." He questioned as they stood under the hot sun.

"I just need to make sure you have SAMCRO's back. If something happens with the Mayans that you'll be there fighting with us." Jax knew that T.O. was loyal as they come. He trusted the Cross man to always have his back, but he needed to hear it from his mouth. If the Mayans and SAMCRO went to war he wanted T.O. and the Grim Bastards on his side.

"Of course." There was no hesitation on his voice. "We'll have your back just like you've had ours. My promises aren't just bullshit and you know that. If a war comes we'll be fighting along side you." T.O. promised, placing a hand on Jax's shoulder.

A sigh of relief left Jax's lips. He knew the Grim Bastards would have his back but he needed the reassurance. Since taking over SAMCRO from Clay too much bad shit had happened and he was trying to fix it all.

"Thanks, man." The blonde smiled with appreciation. "We got your back too if you ever need it."

An idea entered T.O. mind at Jax's words. "Actually, I might need your help with something."

Jax raised an eyebrow at the man. He looked conflicted and stressed as he spoke making Jax wonder what was going on with the usually calm man.

"What is it?"

A deep sigh left T.O.'s lips. "My daughter and grandson are moving back to Lodi. Her old man got a life sentence and she's lost everything."

"Shit." Jax ran a hand over his hair. "He got protection in there?" Jax knew it was hard being on the inside and if you didn't have someone watching your back in there then it even harder.

T.O. nodded at Jax's question. "I have a few friends in there keeping an eye on him, but Danny doesn't really need any help. The fuckin' guy could take on anyone and win — I guess that's the fuckin' Irish in him." The bald man shook his head, a small laugh leaving his mouth.

"Your daughter and grandson are they okay?"

"Drea is tough but I know she's struggling with everything. She had to sell her house and drain her savings account for his lawyer."

"Shit. How can I help?" Jax felt bad for T.O. and his family, though he had never met Drea he wanted to help his friend out.

"She's gonna need a job and I'd rather her not work in Lodi — too much bullshit."

Jax nodded he understood. "What was she doing before all of this?"

"Dancing." T.O. saw the look that crossed Jax's face at his words. "Not like that. She's a dance teacher and was saving up for her own studio before this."

T.O. had always been so proud of his daughter, but when she got accepted into one of the most prestigious dance schools he couldn't have been prouder. Drea had always talked about owning her own studio and was close to having her dream, but now she had to start from scratch.

The Teller man nodded. He didn't have a use for a dancer — at least one that wasn't on a pole.

"I can ask my ma if she's got work in the office for her?" Jax suggested.

"Thank you, man. It would mean a lot to me." The Cross man smiled at the blonde biker.

He had finally felt like a small weight had been lifted off his shoulders. Jax placed a hand on his shoulder as the two men said their goodbyes both of them walking back to their own bikes and clubs.

"Everything good?" Roman questioned as he eyed his President.

"Yeah." T.O. nodded before starting his bike and riding off towards his home.

—

DREA'S HOMETOWN OF LODI was only a few hours away from the small town she had called home for the past few years. One of the many reasons she decided to move back in with her dad — along with being broke — was because of the few hour drive she would have to take every couple of weeks to visit Danny in prison.

Drea was lucky —if you could call it that— that she didn't hate her hometown. She didn't just leave one day because she needed to be away from Lodi, in fact she visited every chance she could. Her father was a big presence in her life and her son's as well. There wasn't any drama between them that had made her leave Lodi which was the only bright side of Drea's predicament.

The tiniest of smiles formed on her lips as she pulled into the driveway of her childhood home. It wasn't the biggest house but her dad always made sure it was happy. After her mom died when she was only six it was her dad who made sure the house continued to run like his wife had done.

The flowers were still waters and planted while dinner was cooked every night and Drea was tucked in and read a book by him each night. It was a loving home and Drea could only hope she raised her son half as good as her dad had.

"Is grandpa home?" Levi questioned from the back seat with excitement in his tone. He still didn't understand everything that had happened, but he was excited to see his grandpa.

"Yeah." Drea nodded as her dark eyes noticed her father's motorcycle parked in the open garage.

Levi quickly unbuckled his seat belt and exited the car, running towards the front of the house.

Drea turned her car off with a sigh, watching as her dad opened the door and pulled Levi onto a tight hug. Slowly she exited the car and made her way towards the front of the house. She could feel her dad's eyes on her as she stood in the doorway, watching him tell Levi that the room at the end of the hall was all decorated for him before the young boy went running down the hall.

T.O. could see the sadness and pain on his daughter's face and he quickly pulled her into a tight embrace, comforting her.

Drea relaxed in her father's arms before tears fell from her eyes. Everything was different now and she needed to accept that.

___