Chapter 73

Tinsley owed Gemma a ton of money to cover all the groceries she had used baking. She had made the strawberry cream cheese muffins she made when her and Jax first stared dating. She made a quiche full of all her favorite vegetables. There was banana pancakes, chocolate chip pancakes, homemade biscuits, sausage, bacon, eggs, cinnamon rolls with buttercream icing, and so much more. There was enough food laid out in Gemma's kitchen to feed an army. Even after all the cooking, Tinsley still felt restless. She needed more to do. Just as she was about to start making some croissants, Gemma came into the kitchen.

"Holy shit!" Said Gemma.

"Sorry. I was restless. I'll get some money and pay you back for all this" said Tinsley.

"No you want. There's enough food here for us for days. Most of it will end up going bad before we could eat it." Said gemma.

"Gemma, I can't just throw all this out when we have ate what we want of it. Baking is what I do when I get restless. Like I said, I'll pay you for using all your ingredients" said Tinsley.

"And I said I'm not taking anything for it. What we don't eat, we can take down to the homeless shelter and donate to them." Said gemma.

"There's a homeless shelter here? I didn't know that." Said Tinsley.

"Well it's actually in Lodi. But either way, they will take all the donations they can get. I used to carry stuff regularly but lately I haven't had the time" said Gemma.

"Well that makes me feel better about using up your groceries" said Tinsley.

"Let's eat before the kids wake up" said Gemma wanting to change the subject.

The two of them sat down at the breakfast bar in the kitchen and began to eat. Neither of them said much. Just as they were finishing up, one of the babies began to cry. Tinsley got up from her chair and went into the living room and found Lizzie was the one crying. Picking her up, she snuggled her close in an attempt to calm her until she got feed her. Lizzie immediately nuzzled her face into Tinsleys chest indicating how hungry she was.

"Hold on baby. Mommas gonna feed you." Said Tinsley.

Tinsley walked over to the couch and sat down. Lifting her shirt, she unclasped her bra that was made for breast feeding and held Lizzie to her chest. Lizzie immediately began to nurse. Tinsley just looked down at her watching her nurse. She didn't know it was possible for anyone to be anymore perfect but all four of her kids were pretty damn close she thought.

Gemma came into the living room and watched Tinsley feeding Lizzie.

"You know, Jax did right by marrying you. He was so lost for so long that I didn't know that he would ever find someone who completed him. You two will get through all of this." Said gemma.

"Thanks Gem. I love him with my whole entire heart. He gave me the best gift anyone could ever give and this my family. He gave me these 4 kids. He gave me you and the club." Said Tinsley, he voice beginning to crack.

"Tinsley, you are part of this family. We all love you. And baby, don't ever forget that it was you who gave us these grand babies. Yes, Jax helped make them but it was you who carried them. It was you who gave birth to them, and it is you who is helping them grow." Said gemma.

"You're really going to make me cry" said Tinsley.

"No tears baby. I just felt like you needed to hear all that." Said gemma.

"Well thanks for that. I love all of you all. Y'all mean the absolute world to me. After my dad died, I was fucked up for a long time. Hell, I still am. But being around you all has showed me that family isn't just who you share blood with. It's who you can trust to be there for you when you need it. Gemma, I know I haven't thanked you nearly enough for all that you and the club have done for me and Jax and the kids. There is no way I can thank you enough. Without you, I don't know how I would get through the guys being gone. You show me what it means to be an old lady everyday." Said Tinsley.

"Now your going to make me cry and the queen doesn't do that shit" said Gemma wiping one single tear away.

"It's the truth Gemma. You have shown me what I need to be as far as how an old lady is supposed to act. I just hope that one day I can be like you. I hope that one day I have the strength to lift someone else up when I hurting to. And don't feed me no bullshit about you not hurting. I know you miss Clay. The two of you are practically inseparable." Said Tinsley.

"We've been through a lot" said Gemma.

"I'm sure you have. You guys can't be married as long as you have and live this life and not seen some shit" said Tinsley.

"Baby, you just don't know" said Gemma almost sadly.

The two of them fell into silence, both thinking about what the other had said. Tinsley wondered why Gemma sounded sad when she said that last part. She wondered just what Gemma had seen and dealt with all these years. She wondered what changes Gemma had seen between JT's leadership and Clays leadership. She knew that clay could be ruthless when he wanted something and from what she had heard about JT from Jax, JT was more passive when it came to doing things.

The babies crying seemed to pull Gemma and Tinsley both from their thoughts. Lizzie has fallen asleep so Tinsley laid her down in the pack and play and grabbed Gracie as Gemma fixed a bottle for Jagger and Abel.

******************

Jax ans the guys weren't having any luck locating Clay. They were sent to a priest who worked closely with the IRA. The priest wanted to play games about where Jimmie could be keeping Clay. Some promise he made to JT.

Jax was tired of the games. He needed to find clay and get home. He didn't even care about the bullshit with McGee and O'Neil. His one priority was to find Clay and get home. If things went down with McGee and O'Neil then so be it.

Leaving the church without any answers, he walked over to the bikes where Chibs was waiting for him.

"You know anything about a promise Ashby made to JT?" Said Jax.

"No" said Chibs.

"Well he won't tell me anything about where Clay could be because if some bullshit promise. JT is dead and gone and as much as I miss him, I need to find Clay." Said Jax.

"That's right brother. Let me talk to McGee's old lady. She's sister to Ashby. Maybe she knows" said Chibs.

"Sounds good. Until then, let's go back for he club house and see if any of thr guys have come up with anything. Someone has to know where Jimmy is." Said Jax.

"Aye, you're right brother" said Chibs.

The two of them headed back to the club house. When they got there, the rest of the SAMCRO were sitting around talking.

"Anything new?" Asked Jax.

"Nah brother. We have searched everywhere" said Tig.

"Tinsley called" said Half Sack. At the mere mention of her name, Jax's heart burst.

"Ok, I'll give her a call. Ashby was a bust. I think he knows where Jimmy is but because of some promise to JT, he won't tell me. Wouldn't tell me what the promise was either. Any of you guys know anything about it?" Asked Jax.

"No" said all the guys.

"Figures. Chibs is going to talk to McGee's old lady and see if he can get it out of her. She had to know something being his sister and all. The good priest had to have told someone something. And if she doesn't know anything, maybe she can get it out of him." Said Jax.

"Sounds like a plan." Said Bobby.

Chibs headed for the little grocery store that Mcgee's old lady, Maureen, owned while Jax headed for the apartment that McGee was letting them stay in. He went straight to the room he was crashing in and made a call to Tinsley. After five rings, she finally answered.

"Hello?" Said Tinsley obviously not recognizing the phone number.

"Hey baby" said Jax.

"Is that you Jax?" Asked Tinsley.

"Yea baby, it's me." Said Jax.

"God I miss you. I'm so sorry about the other night. I just need you home. I need you" said Tinsley.

"Shhh baby. It's ok. I know you were upset. And I know I fucked up by not reaching out before now. All is forgiven." Said Jax.

"I really am sorry Jax. I know I have accused you of cheating so many times. And I know if I keep accusing, you will end up doing it. I just can't deal with that. I can't stand the thought of you fucking another woman" said Tinsley.

"And I can't stand the though if you fucking another guy. Like I said, all of forgiven." Said Jax.

"What are you doing?" Asked Tinsley.

"Relaxing right this minute. You?" said Jax

"Just got done feeling the kids. They are back asleep. I've got a shit ton of dishes to wash. I kinda went crazy with the baking at your moms." Said Tinsley.

"Why are you baking at moms?" Asked Jax.

"Well, last night after our fight, Willow came over. We hung out for awhile but then her water broke. Your mom kept the kids while I carried Willow to the hospital. She had a baby boy. I was going to stay with her at the hospital but I ran into your ex and, well, I kinda sorta rearranged her face" said Tinsley.

"Hold up. Willow has the baby?" Said Jax.

"Yeah. Your mom said not to tell Half Sack yet because she didn't want him getting distracted" said Tinsley.

"She's right. Now, for the rearranging of faces, tell me what the hell happened" said Jax.

"Well, I need to start at the beginning. Kevin came by the house after me and you had the fight last night looking for you. Said it was important to talk you to about Ava. Wouldn't go into any detail. I tried calling and kept getting your voicemail but decided not to leave a message. Whatever he needed could wait. Won't like you could do anything from Ireland anyway. Well, fast forward to the hospital. I was just going back to Willow's room when I ran into tara. Bitch wanted to start running her mouth. I finally got out of her what kevin needed to get up with you with. Supposedly, she told Ava Opie was her dad and not Ava wants to meet Kenny and Ellie. Tara wants you to convince Donna to allow them to meet. When I told her it wasn't your place to set that up, she got in my face and called me all kinds of names. Accused you of cheating- which didn't help I wanna add. I told her to back up off me but she didn't. She told me that you only kept me around to keep you warm at night and that once you saw me in a bikini, you would be begging her to take you back. I kinda blacked out for a minute because the next thing I knew I was beating the shit out of her. It took 3 guards to pull me off. When I looked down, she as unconscious. I could tell she had a broken nose and I'm pretty sure I heard some ribs cracking when I kicked her. Fast forward again, the guards escorted me out of the hospital while Tara was being checked out. They wouldn't let me go get my belongings so I had to calm a cab. Instead of going home and having to walk the kids home, I just decided to stay at your moms." Said Tinsley.

"Jesus" said Jax.

"Yeah. So it's been a busy day" said Tinsley.

"Sounds like it. But your right. It's not my place to set up a meeting with Donne for them.

"I think-or at least I hope- she understands that now" said Tinsley.

"Let's hope so." Said Jax.

"So, hows Ireland?" Asked Tinsley.

"This place is miss covered shit hole." Said Jax.

"What's wrong Jax. I can tell something is up. You told me you have always wanted to go to Ireland. So what's changed your mind?" Said Tinsley.

"Are you alone? Or at least away from mom?" Asked Jax.

Tinsley's stomach sank. If jax has to tell her something and didn't want Gemma around, she knew it had to be about Clay.

"Yeah, just me and the babies. Your mom is outside smoking" said Tinsley

"What I'm about to tell you have to stay with us." Said Jax.

"Ok." Said Tinsley.

"Ok, all all day we have been looking for Clay. Some of Jimmy's guys kidnapped him and tried to kill us in the process.

"WHAT!" Said Tinsley.

"Yeah, that's what we're all saying. We were sent to a fucking priest who may know Jimmy's hideout. Supposedly he made a promise to my dad but he won't tell me what the promise is. We haven't been able to locate McGee and O'Neil so it looks like they are the ones behind Clay's abduction." said Jax.

"Oh my god Jax. What are you guys going to do?" Asked Tinsley.

"We're going to find Clay no matter whats it's costs us" said Jax.

"Jax, please be careful. I can't lose any of you guys. I want you all to come one alive and kicking" said Tinsley.

"We will try our best to come back while but these fuckers play dirty. We didn't give them inclination that we knew McGee was working with Jimmy yet they still try to kill us and most of SAMBEL. A few of SAMBEL actually did die. Chibs' nephew was one of them. He has vowed to kill Jimmy and anyone else who gets in his way." Said Jax.

"Can you blame him?" Asked Tinsley.

"Not at all. Look, you can't tel mom about this. She doesn't need to worry about Clay. With her heart condition, things could go to shit fast. I don't want her flipping out and trying to come to Ireland." Said Jax.

"I won't say anything but if things get bad, you need to let me know what you tell her. She mentioned earlier that she was trying to get up with him and he wouldn't answer. She's eventually going to figure out what's going on" said Tinsley.

"I'll figure it out" said Jax.

"Just bring him and all the guys home safe. And you better come home in one piece" said Tinsley.

"I'll try my best. How are my babies doing?" Said Jax wanting time change the subject.

"They are good. They all just got done eating." Said Tinsley.

"Just picturing you feeding them is turning me on." Said Jax.

"Lord have mercy. Teller, you have a one track mind" said Tinsley laughing.

"And you don't? You going to tell em that  your not even thinking about fucking my brains out right now?" Said Jax.

"Well of course now I am" said Tinsley.