-- help moving the pieces depending on the size of the board and if it goes out of her reach. She'll be happy to be included in anything. Before they moved her to ma's school, kids would pick on her and shit and exclude her from things. She just wants to feel normal."

-- of let the demons take over. It was sad as fuck to watch." I let my hands continue to work into her back since it seemed to be helping her a little. "She's smart as hell, babe. She can pretty much play anything as long as it isn't too physical. She loves playing games, sometimes she just needs --

"Don't get me wrong, Bishop wasn't all bad, and he wasn't always the way he was before he died. Not that it is an excuse, but he had a lot of demons, went through a lot of bad shit. Honestly, I just think he couldn't take it anymore and he hated the person he was becoming, so I think he just kind --

Diabloooo... I love you more, beautiful.

— out, babe.” I kissed her shoulder again while working the soap into a lather and cleaning her back slowly.

— used to let us get rid of them. I know it was because of Bishop mostly. I should’ve just did it anyway.” Taking the clean wash cloth off the edge of the tub, I dipped it in the water before squeezing some soap onto it. “We can stay for a little even after we’re clean if you’re not ready to get —

“Melody communicates a lot better than most people think, she just doesn’t like to use her board that much, but she does use it.” I smiled, and kissed her shoulder. “I know we’re all adjusting, the extra people not being here will definitely help. That had everyone on edge too. Before now Ma never —

— she needs extra love right now because you’re right she’s away from her parents and she’s away from her home. It’s all new for everyonehhh.” I had to chuckle when she mentioned Vinny’s dad voice. “We both got that. Pero people don’t hear it much because we don’t usually need it use them.”

— and she’s never had to share her things the way she is right now. I know she needs to get used to it pero that’s not gonna happen over night either. It’s gonna take a little time. Trust me, ima make sure she does the right things and Ima make sure Melody is good. I adore that little girl too and —

— She was like my sister and my child at the same time. “Of course she doesn’t understand, babe. She’s eight. I don’t think she’s doing anything to be malicious, she’s just not used to having to share. She loves Melody and spending time with her but she’s never had to do it for an extended period —

“I wasn’t saying he was wrong or that Gracie was right. I’m just saying if he ever hit her that was my point, babe. I know she needs to share.” I wasn’t really sure anyone truly understood my relationship with Gracie. She was my sister, but I helped raise her and took her in when no one else could.—

— keeping her close. “I’ll wash you off in a few, right now I’m enjoying just holding you.”

— and test me or Vin. She is spoiled yes, pero she knows better than to act like a spoiled brat. We made sure of that. Like we took the time to teach her everything she needed to know about being a good kid and a good person while we’ve been raising her.” Sighing, I wrapped my arm around her —

— Abel’s trauma and everything he has been through, his medical problems all of it. I loved him, he was my brother, blood or not. But when it came to Gracie I did not play. And even if she was in the wrong that kid doesnt know his own strength. “She won’t do it again. She knows better than to try —

“Diabloooo that sounded like it fucking hurt. Shit it made my back hurt just hearing it.” I smoothed my hand down her back slowly. “Shit… I love him and I know he’s got his own set of trauma and shit pero if he ever lays a hand on her…” I stopped my sentence without finishing it. I was sensitive to—

— made it out of the house alive.” I smiled down at her despite the nature of our conversation. “I’ll be your superhero as long as you let me. As far as the charges. I don’t know either all I know is he had to know one of the cops or something because something still should’ve happened.”

“Trust me, babe, I know. I wasn’t home that day. I was with Vinny and Riz helping with the dogs because Riz had a litter due. If I had been home I could’ve stopped it before it even happened.” Vinny and I both still beat ourselves up about that day because had we been there, Jesse wouldn’t have —

-- taken away from him. Clay and Jax both should've been up to my dad to handle, pero people took that away from him, so unless he wants me to go with him, Jesse is his to handle."

-- on borrowed time. He's the whole reason this shit happened with my dad in the first place. Then he decided to attack my mom. I'd take care of it now, pero that's something my pop needs to do. He deserves that much. He's already had two other people that should've been up to him to get rid of --

"She'll tell him. I know that without a doubt she will. I hate that mother fucker for too many reasons, but I was never able to get close enough to him. And not enough people know about what happened to have had anyone else take care of it. Pero I know one thing, as soon as my dad knows, Jesse is --

-- aren't my dad would make the call. I knew that much. "They'll call if they need something, I know it's a little weird, and scary maybe to just let them be, pero we gotta. Especially today."

-- know all of her new triggers, he knows how to handle her and the triggers. She's safest with him, which has to be enough for us." My chin rested on her shoulder, I peppered her skin with soft kisses still because I knew she was worrying, but I also knew my parents. They'd be okay and if they --

"I know, babe. I get it, trust me. She's still getting used to feeling normal again, and I know it's gonna take time, pero we can't coddle her either. As much as we want to. She has to get used to being able to do things again on her own. Especially when she's with pop. Because even if he doesn't --

— normalcy again and honestly I don’t wanna lose it. That shit scares the fuck out of me.” She was the only person I’d admit that to, but it was true. It did scare the fuck out of me.

— a button on the side of the tub, I waited for the jets to kick on, resting my chin on her shoulder. “Nah. It’s not weird. I miss them too. What’s weird for me is I feel like I miss them more now than when ma was on all the meds and pop was gone. I think maybe because I have a sense of the —

“Of course I will, babe.” I kept my voice low, pressing a kiss to her shoulder. I was glad she was asking because I felt like that was a good step for us considering before she didn’t even want me to see her scars. “I was already planning on helping you anyway, pero I’m glad you asked me.” Pressing—

— own I want to ask too. So we can do that when they get back. Or if you wanna talk to Nan I know she won’t push you away.” Kissing her softly, I stepped back, sinking down into the water and pulling her with me. “For now though, let’s just take some time and relax and just enjoy this together.”

— were still part of her and her story. To me she was perfect. “Babe, it’s okay. I don’t think you’re going to trigger them. They both want to talk about things they just haven’t in a really long time. Mostly because people didn’t want to let them. But I know they want to talk. I have questions of —

Watching her would be something that I would never get tired of. Biting my lip, I watched her get undressed before she stepped into the tub. I knew she was self conscious about her scars, but I didn’t care about them. They were part of her and even though I hated what she had to go through, they —

— this tub because we could both fit comfortably and still be close to one another. “I’ll turn the jets on too. They work wonders for sore muscles.”