I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 27

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 27

Rafe and Jessie slipped back down the stairs after putting Charley to bed. Jessie sighed as she took the last step off the stairs with Rafe behind her, looking at the mess in front of her. Toys everywhere, food still out on the counter, etc. but Jessie wouldn't dare complain, her house and her heart were full. Still, Rafe understood the reason for her sigh.

"What would you like me to do first? Pick up the room or help in the kitchen?" Rafe asked as he snaked his arms around Jessie and lowered his head to be next to hers. Jessie grabbed Rafe's arms in response and leaned her head into Rafe's chest.

"Why don't you just help me in the kitchen and we'll work our way through everything together. Can you start by grabbing the plates from the table?" Jessie inquired with a half smile.

"Of course I can." Rafe whispered as he planted a kiss on Jessie's cheek and pulled away.

Rafe did just that, eventually working his way into the kitchen to help load the dishwasher and wipe the counters. Once that was done, the two of them made their way into the living room to pick up Charley's toys. They both ended up on their hands and knees crawling around looking for any toys that could be hidden or lodged underneath any furniture. Eventually they both made their way around the coffee table from opposite directions, their eyes meeting thankfully before their heads collided.

As their eyes locked, no words needed to be said, a clear message being received. Rafe looked at Jessie's lips and then back to her eyes. Jessie leaned in and their lips finally crashed together. Rafe pulled Jessie closer as their lips moved in perfect sync. They eventually sat in the floor in between the coffee table and the couch making out innocently. They both were simply enjoying each other's presence. Eventually Rafe broke away, despite his desire to keep this going for hours on end.

"We need to talk." Rafe proclaimed out of breath as he held Jessie's face, both of them propped up against the couch while still sitting on the floor. Jessie tried to catch her breath also, clearly annoyed and focused on other things.

"Do we have to?" Jessie whispered, still locked on Rafe. Rafe just chuckled in response and looked down at the carpet.

"Yes... we do." He answered with a half smile of assurance as he brushed some hair away from Jessie's face. "It's nothing bad, but I just want to talk."

"Ugh come on Rafe, I just need one day where everything is perfect. Can we please just do this tomorrow?" Jessie pleaded.

"That's what I want to talk to you about... tomorrow." Rafe trailed off. "What does tomorrow look like for you?" Rafe asked. Jessie just sighed, clearly she was being roped into this conversation one way or the other.

"I don't know." Jessie stated honestly. "What does it look like for you?"

Rafe looked down at the shaggy rug they were sitting on and began to play with some loose strings of the carpet as he contemplated his answer. He wanted to be honest, but he also wasn't sure how honest he should be.

"I want you to come back with me." Rafe looked up and into Jessie's eyes with hope. He decided to just cut to the chase. Jessie was a little taken back by his boldness, but she knew this conversation was going to have to happen.

"Well, it's not that easy, Rafe. I mean, Charley and I have built a life here and we-"

"And I get that, and I would move here but... you know that all of my business is back in OBX." Rafe replied in a hushed tone, trying to show sincerity and regard for Jessie's point of view. Jessie just sighed and looked down, suddenly finding the carpet just as interesting as Rafe did.

"Yeah, I know." Jessie said sadly, never looking up as she played with the carpet. Rafe could tell he had upset Jessie, and that was definitely not his intentions. Maybe he should have waited to have this conversation tomorrow.

Rafe sighed and tilted Jessie's chin up to look at him as he cracked a half smile.

"I just thought since you only left OBX because of me you'd want to come back now that we're back together. I just figured you missed everyone." Rafe replied. Jessie knew he had a point, she had dreamed of coming back to be with the pogues, but she never did because of Rafe. Now that Rafe and her were back together, she had no reason to stay in Manhattan right?

"You can't really tell me that you're tied to this place like you are OBX can you?" Rafe insisted as he brushed some hair out of Jessie's face.

"No but, I am a part of a family here that took me in when I needed them most. I can't just forget that." Jessie answered.

"Well this isn't to say we can't come back and visit, baby. And one day I might be able to move business here. But either way, if they're your family, they'll understand and support you." Rafe said. Jessie looked down again to think for a moment.

"Yeah, I guess. It's just going to be a big change for Charley and I don't know how she's going to adjust. She's going to meet a lot of new people that know a lot about the both of us and growing up in that is going to be hard." Jessie continued.

"I understand, I really do, but her being so young might help. She won't exactly remember this place in detail. And besides, you've already seemed to introduce her to the idea of OBX. I mean... her room looks just like something you'd see back home." Rafe assured her with a smile.

"Yeah... she does like to dress up like an island girl." Jessie laughed.

"See, exactly! She'd fit in great and she'd love Sarah and Kie." Rafe explained with more hope in his eyes.

"Well, how about we do this in baby steps for everyone involved? How about we just visit OBX as a family, get all of the pogues introduced to the idea? Oh and before we do that we also need to introduce you to Mama and Tom." Jessie stated.

"That's just fine, whatever you want baby." Rafe reassured Jessie as he nodded his head in agreement with an even bigger smile on his face. Jessie just smiled in agreement. She began to form this look on her face, showing that she was thinking about something. She began to trail her hand towards the waist line of Rafe's jeans and eventually trailed her fingers upwards across his chest.

"You know what I want right nooooow..." Jessie insinuated as she had her bedroom eyes in full force looking dead on at Rafe.

"Oh I got a pretty good idea." Rafe understood the assignment as he leaned in to kiss Jessie tenderly, eventually deepening the kiss. Jessie reciprocated by cupping Rafe's face and scooting closer towards him, eventually finding her way on his lap. Rafe found his way to Jessie's hips, giving them gentle squeezes. Between kisses, Rafe eventually moved Jessie down to the carpet, hovering over her. Between the movements, Jessie started giggling against Rafe's lips.

"What are you laughing at?" Rafe asked as he pulled away to laugh a little himself.

"Nothing, we're just rolling around on this floor like I don't have a perfectly good bed upstairs. And Charley could come down here any minute." Jessie explained with a smile as she looked up at Rafe. Rafe was supporting himself with his arms as he hovered over her and laughed again.

"Some things never change." Rafe responded as he got up from the floor and grabbed Jessie to wrap her legs around his waist so they could continue kissing, making his way upstairs.

---

Rafe woke up the next morning feeling a heavy weight on his chest. Not figuratively, literally. He also felt a small finger poking at his face.

"Daddy?" Rafe heard a small voice whisper ever so close to him. That was enough to pull him out of his slumber and make him realize it wasn't a dream. He opened his eyes to his beautiful daughter sitting a on his chest and indeed poking his face.

"Daddy?" Charlotte asked again, this time a little louder now that she realized he was awake. Rafe couldn't believe his ears. She already caught on to the idea that he was daddy, whether she knew what that meant, he didn't know, and he didn't care. He tried not to jump for joy and wake Jessie up, who was asleep up against his side cuddling his arm wrapped around her.

"Yes, princess?" Rafe mumbled with sleepy eyes and a groggy voice. He squinted to try and get a better look at Charley.

"Daddy!" Charley said with excitement as she realized she had called him by the right name. "I'm hungry." She said as she laid her head on Rafe's chest. Rafe melted at the contact, wrapping his other free arm around Charley to pat her back.

"Ok, darling, I'll make you some breakfast." Rafe replied as he tried to ease his way out of bed so he didn't wake Jessie.

"No, mommy make it!" Charley demanded a little louder than Rafe would have liked. Rafe immediately put his finger up to his lips to indicate Charley needed to be a bit quieter. Funnily enough, Charley understood and showed remorse by widening her eyes and covering her mouth with both of her little hands. Rafe found it completely adorable and really funny.

"Mommy's sleeping, daddy can make it." Rafe assured through a whisper as he got out of bed. He put some sweatpants on, realizing he was only in his underwear. Rafe was grateful he at least had those on. Charley just simply nodded and waddled out of the room in anticipation. Rafe followed behind with a smile on his face as he shut the door and went downstairs.

He found Charley trying to get up onto the island as she grabbed her step stool. Rafe understood and rather than let her struggle, he picked her up and put her on the counter.

"What do you want for breakfast?" Rafe asked her as he set each arm on different sides of his daughter on the counter and looked at her lovingly.

Charley scratched her head almost comically as she looked around trying to think of what she wanted... or more so what it was called. When she realized she didn't know what it was that mommy made her she just threw up her hands and shrugged in defeat. Rafe laughed and went to fridge.

"I bet I know something you'd like." Rafe said as he looked in the fridge. Sure enough he saw just what he was looking for. He figured Jessie always had the stuff on hand to make her favorite.

Rafe begins to make the chocolate chip pancake batter that he never forgot how to whip up. Charley watched intently, the steps looking familiar to her. Rafe noticed her ogling the batter.

"Is this what mommy makes?" Rafe asked as he continued whisking. Charley simply nodded frantically in excitement. Rafe laughed as he made his way behind him to the stove to start making the pancakes. What he didn't know is that Charley was sneaking chocolate chips out of the bag he left open behind her. Rookie mistake. Rafe eventually heard the bag crinkle and without hesitation corrected his daughter.

"Get your hand out of the chocolate chips." Rafe sassed with a half smile as he continued flipping the pancakes. Charley straightened up immediately, looking straight at Rafe as if to show she had never done anything wrong. Once Rafe was at a stopping point, he went back over to Charley and put her on his hip and continued cooking.

Rafe let Charley help of course, instructing her to put some pieces of bacon on the other skillet in front of him. They weren't laid in there perfectly of course but they would do just fine.

"You're a great helper, you know that?" Rafe smiled at Charley. Unbeknownst to Rafe, Jessie was watching the whole exchange at the bottom of the stairs. Seeing Rafe standing there looking so comfortable with his daughter and in that environment filled Jessie with so much joy and assurance. Jessie couldn't imagine a life without Rafe now, whatever that looked like. Seeing the sight in front of her really gave her the reassurance she needed that she could follow Rafe wherever they needed to go, as long as it kept their family together. How could she separate them now? After all, they were all doing so great.

Jessie eventually made her way into the kitchen in a large tshirt and pajama shorts, running her hand against Rafe's shirtless back and swinging around to give him a gentle kiss. She eventually gave Charley a kiss on the cheek as well.

"Good morning." Rafe said as he pulled away from the kiss with a small smile.

"Good morning." Jessie replied. The sight in front of her couldn't help but make her want to kiss Rafe again, so she did, this time not breaking away. The two of them both forgot for a moment that their daughter was right there. Furthermore, Charley had never seen her mommy with someone like that before, so she wasn't quite sure what to do. Like any three year old, she slowly inched her face closer to her parents just staring intently until she was mere inches away from both of them. They both stopped as they felt Charley's breath on the sides of their faces, causing both of them to giggle.

"Can I help you?" Rafe sassed as he looked over at Charley, who had since backed up. Charley just giggled in response and bashfully dipped her head into Rafe's neck.

"Breakfast is almost ready." Rafe laughed as he let Charley down to grab some plates. Jessie got Charley in her high chair and got ready to eat.

All three of them sat down to eat, sitting in a comfortable silence until Rafe finally spoke up.

"So have you thought anymore about what I said last night?" Rafe asked in between bites of his food. Jessie looked down at her food trying to come up with a suitable answer.

"Yeah... I think today we should at least introduce you to Mama and Tom and then plan when we're going to visit OBX." Jessie replied as she picked at the pancakes in front of her. Rafe nodded in reply as he continued to eat.

"I can have a flight for us ready by tomorrow morning." Rafe said with hope in his voice. Jessie still thought it was a little quick and maybe too much too soon for Charley but she agreed.

The next hour was spent getting the kitchen cleaned up and getting ready for the day, specifically getting ready to go meet Mama and Tom and tell them the plan. Jessie felt this had to happen considering she worked at the bar they owned and pretty much owed them her life considering the big help they always were to her. 

With all that being said, they decided to meet Mama and Tom at the restaurant before they opened for the day.

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 29

Jessie and Rafe were finally done packing that evening. Charley of course had already been put to bed, allowing them time to get some stuff done.

"You've always been an over packer." Rafe joked as he walked into Jessie's room looking at the luggage full of clothes, shoes, and everything in between.

"I like to think I'm cautious." Jessie laughed back. It was hard for Jessie not to over pack when her entire life was filled with so much turmoil. Many a time her and JJ both packed their bags not knowing when or if they would return home. Jessie couldn't help but take that into her adult life. Rafe snaked his arms behind Jessie to pull her into a hug when he noticed a square, black book with nothing on the front of it sitting in her suitcase.

"What's this?" Rafe asked as he got an arm around Jessie to grab it.

"Uh, that's, uh, a photo album. I thought JJ would like to see some pictures of Charley and me over the years... and you too of course." Jessie explained. Rafe realized with everything happening so quickly, Jessie never really got the time to show Rafe stuff like this. Without a word said, Rafe jumped on the bed with the book in his hands in excitement.

"I want to look at every picture. Do you have any more?" Rafe asked. Jessie just laughed and looked almost embarrassed. At first Rafe was confused by the look, but then he realized.

"There's more in that suitcase isn't there?" Rafe smirked. Jessie giggled and nodded her head like a child as she rummaged through some clothes to find the others buried at the bottom. She pulled them out and jumped on the bed with Rafe.

That night Rafe and Jessie spent the next few hours looking through all kinds of photos, ranging from Jessie's pregnancy, Charley's birth, life in Manhattan, birthdays, and everything in between.

"You know, years ago a night like this would've been spent smoking your dad's weed or drinking or doing some other dumb shit." Rafe laughed as he closed the last album.

"Look at us, growing up." Jessie joked as she flipped her hair.

"Do you miss it?" Rafe asked a little more seriously. Jessie didn't need him to elaborate, she knew exactly what he was referring to.

"The late nights when all we had to worry about was who was sleeping in who's bed? Of course I do." Jessie answered with a hint of sadness in her voice. Rafe and Jessie always felt like the modern day Bonnie and Clyde in a way, always looking to get into or out of trouble and teaching each other every day what it means to be truly free and not care about what others think. They both had big reputations on the island— in totally different ways— and that's what always made them so dynamic.

Rafe just looked down in sadness as well and pulled Jessie's hand to his chest and held it.

"Look, I know things are different now." Rafe whispered. "But different doesn't mean worse. We can get back to us, Jess. We're going to find a new normal eventually, and we'll learn to love that new normal."

Jessie teared up. This was the Rafe she always believed in... the Rafe nobody else gets to see. Still, she couldn't let her guard down completely, as she knew that deep down Rafe was still trying to get clean.

"Yeah, I know." Jessie paused. "But sometimes deep down I do wish things were as simple as they were back then... even though they really weren't simple at all." Jessie laughed, her hand still being held tightly by Rafe's strong arms. Rafe laughed as well.

"I know, baby. It's always been me and you against the world, and look, that really hasn't changed." Rafe said. Jessie saw his point. Here they were in the same position they found themselves in years ago: trying to convince everyone that they were going to make it despite all the people who hated seeing them together.

"You know JJ's gonna be livid right? He's not going to accept that we're back together." Jessie proclaimed. Rafe scoffed.

"Well, yeah, I figured that." Rafe joked as he kissed Jessie's hand. "But it doesn't matter, nothing and nobody is going to separate me from my girls. I promise."

"Not even Coke?" Jessie had to ask. The thought has been eating away at her the second she decided to take Rafe back.

"Especially not Coke." Rafe replied more serious than ever as he looked into Jessie's eyes. Jessie nodded in response.

"Not even money?" Jessie asked again. Rafe just laughed, now holding onto both of her hands with his.

"I'm done chasing whatever the pogues dig up." Rafe said with a smile. Jessie couldn't help but snicker and nod her head once again. Jessie took a deep breath followed by a sigh of relief. Rafe could tell those thoughts had been weighing on her. He brushed some hair out of her face.

"You and Charley are my first priority. I'll make our money honestly with the company, and that's as far as it'll go. Besides..." Rafe smirked. "I still have that other half of the gold."

Jessie just scoffed and playfully hit Rafe's arm as if she couldn't believe he just said such a thing. Rafe took the opportunity to grab her arm and swing her over his body as he lay in the bed with Jessie on top of him. They were now in a full on play fight until Jessie grabbed a pillow beside her. Rafe playfully screamed but then Jessie quickly put her pointer finger up to her lips signaling he needed to keep it down.

"Our daughter is asleep in the other room." Jessie whispered through giggles.

"Well then we better keep quiet." Rafe smirked as he threw Jessie down on the bed.

- - -

Rafe had his driver pick him, Jessie, and Charley up at the airport and take them to their home In OBX. Their home... Rafe loved the sound of that. Although, he knew there was no way he could have him and his girls live in that house forever, there was simply too much baggage. He vowed to himself to find a house fit just for them, but for now, this would do.

"This is your new home." Rafe said to Jessie as he wrapped his arm around her as he walked toward the front door with Charley on his hip. "For now anyways. I promise some day soon we'll have a house all our own that we pick." Rafe assured as he went to unlock the front door.

Jessie entered through the front door, hit with a wave of nostalgia-- no, trauma. There was the same dining room table that Rafe slammed his fist against when he was fighting with Ward over Jessie, and there was the kitchen island where Rose so gracefully despised her presence, and how could she forget the long dark hallway where Ward threatened her.. and then Rafe threatened his father. Jessie tried to put it out of her mind. Rafe put Charley down to roam freely through her new home, which she gladly did through fits of laughter, screams, and claps.

"We're going to need to put away all the million dollar artifacts laying around." Jessie joked as she rubbed her hand worriedly against her forehead, although she was being slightly serious. Rafe laughed.

"We can make that happen, you wanna unpack and then head to JJ's? He still doesn't know you're here right?"

"Right." Jessie sighed, anxiety written all over her face. Rafe noticed and pulled Jessie into his chest for a tight hug. He laid his head on top of hers.

"Everything's gonna be alright, baby. We've done this before. If you really want I can stay here while you go over there with Charley so he can just meet her first." Rafe assured.

"No, I really think it'd be best just to rip the bandaid off, and Charley being there might keep him in check." Jessie stated through sad eyes. It broke Rafe's heart to see her so stressed. He leaned down to look in Jessie's eyes and cupped her face.

"Baby, I promise it'll be okay. I'll do all the explaining if you want me to. You don't even have to be there, you can stay here with Charley." Rafe explained with a softness.

"And just let you get a public beating for stealing what's rightfully the pogues, only returning half out of legal obligation, and then getting back together with the pogues' sister that you forced to run off because of you're drug induced rage? Yeah, no thanks, I'd like you alive." Jessie retorted not even slightly joking. Still, Rafe found it funny. "It'd be best coming from me... or at least the both of us." Jessie said as she looked into Rafe's eyes and held his arms as they were holding her face. Rafe just nodded in understanding. Without even averting her eyes, Jessie's sixth sense kicked in that the house was too quiet.

"Get out of whatever you are in Charlotte Renee." Jessie yelled. All of a sudden both of them heard what sounded like a heavy lid hit the ground and roll around until it came to a complete stop. Sure enough, the top of a beautiful mosaic vase was on the ground in the living room. Rafe was amazed.

"How did you do that." He asked.

"Mom things." Jessie answered with a smirk and a shrug.

- - -

Rafe and Jessie had arrived to the Chateau in Rafe's truck. The pogues exited the house confused because they weren't expecting any visitors, and especially not Rafe. Their confusion only grew when they saw Jessie hop out of the passenger seat.

At first JJ came barreling through the yard when he thought Rafe was the only one he would be seeing, but he stopped midway when he caught a glimpse of his sister coming from the passenger side.

"Jessie?!" JJ asked suddenly with a bright smile on his face. All the other pogues looked around at each other, still not completely sure what was happening, and didn't quite trust it. JJ, however, had quickly forgotten about the fact that Jessie most definitely just got out of the passenger seat of his arch nemesis' truck. He ran to engulf her in a hug, only to look over Jessie's shoulder and see Rafe stepping out of the truck as well. Rafe and JJ made eye contact. Rafe gave a look as if to say "not here, and not now." JJ returned the look with an expression of "what the hell?" Then again, JJ was never one to keep his thoughts only in his head, so of course he said exactly what he was thinking.

"What the hell is he doing here?" JJ yelled as he began to charge at Rafe. Jessie saw it coming and immediately got in front of JJ, putting her hands on his chest just long enough to catch his attention once more and make him stop.

"Hey hey hey, not right now. He's-"

"Not right now? Not right now, Jessie?! He stole from us! I'm gonna beat his ass!"

"JJ." Pope spoke up in disbelief, all the pogues were too busy looking at what was going on behind the two siblings to stop JJ from pummeling Rafe. Once JJ heard Pope's oddly calm demeanor he finally looked past Jessie, only to see Rafe holding Charley on his hip, clearly unsure if he was going to walk towards them or not. JJ began to tear up.

"I-Is that...?" JJ couldn't finish his sentence for choking on his words as his lips quivered.

"Yea, JJ. That's my... that's our daughter." Jessie answered as she turned to look at Rafe. Rafe still hadn't moved, he stood their with a stolid look on his face as if to say that he was not to be messed with while his daughter was around, especially not while she was in his arms. Rafe managed the perfect look of a mix between genuine desire to make things right, while also showing that he meant business. Rafe was proving to be an iron fist in a velvet glove at the moment. JJ received the message loud and clear from Rafe with no words needed, but he was still so conflicted on how to handle the situation.

"So you think you can just show up with my niece on your hip and think I won't beat the shit out of you? Really? That's some real cowardly shit hiding behind your daughter don't you think, kook?" JJ spat as he narrowed his eyes at Rafe. Jessie could tell Rafe didn't like that accusation, and she knew that if Charley wasn't there, he would've lunged at JJ wishing for a fight.

"My daughter is here to protect you, not me." Rafe simply said with a newfound cockiness to him as he strutted up to JJ, showing he wasn't afraid. Unfortunately, Jessie knew Rafe was right. He wasn't going to fight in front of his daughter.

"That's a load of horseshit!" JJ laughed at Rafe before looking back at Jessie with judgement written all over his face. "So what is he to you now, huh? Husband? Baby daddy? Ex thief?"

"Ex murderer?" Kiara butted in through gritted teeth and knotted up fists. All the pogues were just as furious that Rafe was even on their turf right now. Except for Sarah, she was still processing that her brother... and her beautiful niece... were standing right in front of her. Sarah couldn't deny that Rafe seemed different this time.

"Jess, you can't be serious." John B finally interrupted. "Are you seriously going to let him be around your daughter? After all that you know he's done to us?"

"Nah, screw that man." JJ exclaimed with anger imminent, now pacing back and forth. "How could you even let him back in your life, Jess. Knowing all that he's put you through?!" JJ grew more furious with every passing word. "You know how this ends, Jessie! You've seen this movie before, and I'll be damned if I let you ruin my niece's life on top of that, Rafe." JJ said this time through angry tears as he made his way to Rafe once more. Jessie stopped in front of JJ again doing the same motion as before.

"JJ," Jessie whispered. "I know this hurts you. I know that you're worried about me, and about Charley, but I promise, nobody has thought about this decision more than I have. Rafe and I are going to try and be a family again. We think Charley deserves that much, and I know that you would agree." JJ's tears suddenly dried up, and his face changed from one of worry to one of numbness.

"You really think he's changed?" JJ sniffled looking down at Jessie, already answering the question in his head. Rafe decided to step in.

"You can have it." Rafe said plainly, looking down at the ground, still standing a few paces away from JJ. "You can have it all. The gold. I don't care about it anymore." Rafe explained as he finally got close enough to JJ and the other pogues. "I just want my girls. I haven't used since Jessie walked through that door in the Bahamas, and I swore to myself years ago that if she ever walked back into my life for whatever reason that I would not give her a reason to walk back out. I've kept that promise. I beat her back to Manhattan to plead with her in person to give me another chance. I know I've messed up pretty damn bad and done wrong by you guys too many times, and I don't expect forgiveness overnight... or even at all. But I do hope that you'll understand that Jessie and I are not going to give up on each other anymore no matter what anyone has to say." Rafe's words were calm, cool, and collected. It was different for all of them to not see Rafe so hot headed, yet they took him just as seriously. JJ had no words, conflicted was an understatement. He couldn't get that night out of his mind, the night Jessie left.

***

"Where the hell is she, JJ!" JJ heard Rafe yell while he was inside sobbing. He was pulled out of his thoughts by the truck door slamming and hearing Rafe scream, clearly angry. He immediately pulled himself together and went outside to face the man he knew was the reason for Jessie's disappearance. In an odd way, JJ was hoping he would see Rafe that night.

"Man, I don't know where the hell she went." JJ exclaimed with annoyance as he threw his hands up in the air. JJ's eyes were still red and swollen yet his tears were nowhere to be found. Rafe really didn't care either way.

"Nah, nah, don't mess with me bro." Rafe demanded as he walked right up to JJ clearly in a mental tailspin. Rafe pinned JJ up against the porch post, one arm pressed hard against JJ's neck. JJ was breathing hard but was determined to not let Rafe see him sweat. That's how JJ always was.

"You're going to TELL ME WHERE SHE IS." Rafe screamed in JJ's face, clearly slipping further into a psychotic rage that he was becoming so accustomed to.

"Dude, I swear if I knew where she was I'd be there. She left because of you, you know-"

"Shut up!" Rafe proclaimed as he pushed his arm further into JJ's shoulders, beginning to obstruct his airflow. Rafe knew JJ was right. Jessie most definitely left because of him. He stood there for a moment looking at JJ. JJ couldn't pinpoint what emotion Rafe was feeling other than rage. Rafe finally let go, only to back away with balled fists as he contemplated what to do next. His breathing became heavier and heavier, the walls of his life feeling like they were caving in on him. His one steadfast that he had, the one he always had in his corner, was gone, and it was all his fault. Rafe felt like crawling out of his own skin, he had never felt so much rage. All the times he faught with his dad, hated the pogues, nothing could compare to the anger he had in his heart... this time only for himself. Rafe finally let it spill out the only way he knew how.

"SHIT!" Rafe screamed at the top of his lungs into the night air, not knowing or caring who it woke up. JJ jumped at the sudden outburst, how could he not? It was a blood curdling cry. After seeing that, he was secretly glad Jessie got away. JJ could only imagine what Rafe was capable of doing to Jessie when he was that angry.

"Did you hit her?" JJ asked calmly with balled fists as he looked at the back of Rafe, who was now staring off into the distant water. Rafe just took a deep breath and scratched his head, refusing to answer. He didn't hit her, but he came pretty damn close. He was afraid of himself in that moment.

"Did you hit her?!" JJ yelled, finally losing his cool. No answer was an answer for JJ, he knew exactly what Rafe meant. Rafe finally turned to look back at JJ, this time with an odd sadness in his eyes as he played with the skin on his lips. He put his palms up to his eyes as if to block out whatever he was thinking or feeling. He finally pulled himself out of it and looked at JJ with determination in his face.

"I'm not gonna stop looking for her." Rafe choked out as he pointed at JJ.

"Oh, you're gonna stop looking for her, Rafe." JJ threatened as he walked closer to Rafe. JJ matched Rafe's all too familiar calm but intimidating energy as he pursed his lips and broadened his chest.

"I'm never going to stop looking for her." Rafe said more determined. "I will find her!"

"If you find her, I find you. And I'll kill you. Do you understand?" JJ demanded as he got within mere inches of Rafe's face, now looking him dead in his bloodshot eyes. Rafe simply laughed, feeling as if they were just playing a game of dick measuring.

"Is that a threat?" Rafe joked with knitted eyebrows.

"That's a promise."

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 28

As Jessie was getting ready to leave for the restaurant, Rafe came into the bathroom as she was brushing her hair. Rafe wrapped his arms around Jessie's waist and pulled her in close.

"Where's Charley?" Jessie asked as she looked at Rafe through the mirror.

"She's playing in her room." Rafe answered. Jessie simply nodded and went back to getting ready.

"She called me daddy this morning." Rafe said simply with a small smile on his face. Jessie stopped what she was doing once again and looked back at Rafe with a grin.

"Seriously?!" Jessie asked with wide eyes.

"Seriously." Rafe replied through a slight laugh. "She said it this morning when she woke me up wanting breakfast."

Jessie couldn't help but be filled with tears of joy. This was more confirmation that her and Charley would be just fine following Rafe back to OBX or wherever they needed to be. No matter where they went, Jessie knew she couldn't split up their family again. Jessie couldn't choke out any words, instead she opted to wrap her arms around Rafe's neck.

"I'm so glad baby, you deserve that." She whispered as she buried herself further into Rafe.

"Thank you." Was all Rafe could say as he breathed a sigh of relief. Suddenly they both heard little footsteps coming to the bathroom door.

"What we doing?" Charley asked with knitted eyebrows. She was already ready to go in her yellow sundress and high pigtails. Rafe bent down to be eye level with his daughter as Jessie went back to fixing her hair.

"We are going to find you some shoes to wear." Rafe replied as he pointed at Charley and booped her nose. She giggled and ran away to her room, clearly anxious to pick out a pair of shoes. Rafe simply followed behind her, but not before giving Jessie one last loving look.

- - -

"We ready to go?" Jessie asked as she slipped on her converse and met Rafe with Charley on his hip at the door.

"Yep." Rafe responded as they walked out the door and towards the bar downtown. Living in Manhattan everything was within walking distance, which Jessie loved. It was always a great way for Charley and her to get some fresh air and a little exercise. Plus, it saved on gas. Jessie didn't even have a car until after a year of living there, with the help of Mama and Tom getting her a job and hooked up with a friend selling one for a good price. However, she couldn't part with the small motorcycle she brought with her from OBX. That was all she had besides a few other belongings when she left. She left both her small car and motorcycle parked in the parking garage connected to their building.

The three of them had finally made it down to the small local dive bar. If Rafe would have blinked he would have missed it. He almost did, thankfully Jessie knew where it was and side stepped him just in time. Jessie had a key to the door of course but also told them she was coming and that she was bringing a friend. Considering they were stopping by before they opened she knew they wouldn't mind. They never minded having Charley there either. Many a night has been spent bartending with Mama while young Charley slept in the back room in a cot built just for her under Tom's desk.

"Hey Mama!" Jessie exclaimed enthusiastically as she let Charley down to run to her grandparents.

"Hey darlin!" Mama replied as she bent down to accept the impending bear hug from Charley. Soon after Tom rounded the corner.

"I thought I heard my favorite girls." The bearded burly man said as he came out of his office and around the counter to give Jessie a hug.

"Hey sweetheart." Tom exclaimed as he hugged Jessie and gave her a kiss on the head. Before Tom was done with the motion he eyed Rafe up and down. "Is this the guest you were talking about?" Tom asked with knitted eyebrows. At the same time Mama came walking up behind Tom with Charley in tow.

"Yes! This is Rafe. Rafe, this is Mama and PopPop. But you can call them Maci and Tom if you'd like." Jessie proclaimed as she introduced the two parties. Rafe stuck his hand out nervously with a soft smile towards Tom. Rafe couldn't belive how nervous he was. He had done billion dollar deals with gun wielding maniacs and their goons surrounding him with no nerves and yet this had him shaking.

"Nice to meet you." Rafe blurted out with his hand still extended. Tom looked down at his hand and back up at Jessie, still trying to decide if he was going to shake it or not. Tom saw the plea on Jessie's face and decided to go with it.

"Nice to meet ya Rafe." Tom said simply in his grisly tone he always has. Thankfully, Mama decided to break the very clear tension.

"Well, y'all want something to eat or drink? It's almost lunchtime!" Mama exclaimed as she made her way back behind the counter hoping everyone would follow.

"Chicken nuggets!" Charley quickly demanded as she ran alongside Mama.

"We'll just take whatever you make." Jessie answered as they sat down at the bar, Tom opted to stand alongside it beside Rafe, still unsure of the man he was looking at. For Tom, no man was good enough for Jessie. Jessie was not looking forward to telling Mama and Tom about her and Rafe's history.

"Can I get you anything to drink, baby?" Mama asked Rafe as she got Jessie started with a Moscow mule, remembering it was her all time favorite.

"Oh I'm okay, water's fine." Rafe replied, politely putting a hand up.

"What, you don't drink?" Tom asked with his eyebrows furrowed. This kid was seeming more and more peculiar to him.

"Uh... just not feeling it today, it's only lunch." Rafe joked looking at Tom for any semblance of understanding.

"Oh come on." Tom bantered as he slapped Rafe's arm with a little too much force for Jessie's liking. Thankfully, Rafe wasn't phased, his strong arms could definitely withstand the blow. "Little whiskey won't hurt ya. Put a little hair on your chest. Get him a whiskey and coke, Mama." Tom insisted. Jessie gave Rafe a look as if to silently apologize. Rafe reciprocated with a soft half smile as if to tell her it's okay. Mama gave Tom a look of disapproval but continued to make a drink for Rafe and slide it his way. Jessie tried to brush it off as best she could despite Tom's best efforts to intimidate Rafe.

"Sooooo..." Jessie began as she stretched her hands across the bar and look around bashfully. "There's a reason that I wanted to come and meet with you guys today."

"Uh oh, here we go." Tom joked as he finally took a seat at the barstool beside Rafe. Charley at that point was playing contentedly in the corner but Jessie wondered if she should redirect her to Tom's office.

"So, Rafe is actually... um... Charley's father." Jessie explained as she gripped Rafe's hand over the bar. "And we're... m-back together." Jessie didn't have the heart to tell them they were already married. She thought that would be way too much too soon. She knew eventually they'd get around to that conversation though. Mama and Tom just exchanged looks that neither Rafe nor Jessie could quite interpret. Were they angry? Confused? Surprised? Did they expect it? Probably a combination of all those things.

"This..." Tom began as he pointed at Rafe. "This is the guy you left home for? And this is the guy you had to protect from Charley?" Tom asked with a dangerous calm in his voice. Rafe couldn't let that slide.

"Hey man you don't even know me." Rafe spat as he immediately stood up from his chair and looked at Tom dead in the eyes, who had also stood up at the same moment to meet them. Despite Tom being slightly shorter, his gaze was just as fierce. Jessie didn't expect that to escalate so quickly, but she thought maybe she should have considering Rafe was never one to accept insults.

"I know enough." Tom answered with just as much vengeance in his voice. "I know that you were the reason Jessie had to leave wherever she came from. I know that you were the reason she felt she and her baby were unsafe. I know you were the reason she came here with no money and nobody to rely on." Tom continued, never breaking his death glare up towards Rafe. At this point their faces were mere inches away from each other. Rafe was trying to prove to Jessie that he had changed, but he still wasn't going to let disrespect slide.

"Yeah well that was the old me, okay?" Rafe replied. Tom just scoffed.

"You may be fooling Jessie with that but you're not fooling me alright I'll be damned if-"

"Stop it! Both of you!" Jessie interrupted, loud enough to get the point across but not loud enough to disturb Charley from across the room.

"Alright, come on now. Your daughter and your granddaughter is in the room right now." Mama spoke up as she went to grab Charley and take her to Tom's office to play with the toys they always kept in there.

"Yeah, and you're lucky she is." Tom retorted, narrowing his eyes at Rafe once more. Rafe was finding it increasingly difficult when a man was judging him so harshly without getting to know him first. Still, he had a point to prove. He remained stolid, not fuming, but he made it clear he was not afraid. Jessie decided to butt in before Rafe had a chance to say what he was really thinking.

"Tom, I promise you nobody is being more cautious about this than I am. I could never forget the reason that I came here, and I could never forget what you and Mama did for me..." Jessie trailed off as she wedged her way in between the two most important men in her life. "... but it's time for me to give Rafe another chance now that he knows about his daughter and is willing to change for us. Okay? Can you just trust me on this?" Jessie said as she looked up at Tom with hopeful eyes. Rafe had softened his look slightly and had un clinched his fist despite him still being angry deep down.

"I guess, sweetheart, whatever you want." Tom sighed as he looked at Jessie lovingly, then back up to Rafe with a hardened glare once again. "But if you step one toe out of line-"

"I'll handle it myself, like I always have, pop." Jessie interrupted with a knowing stare. Tom knew she was right, and so did Rafe. Jessie really hadn't changed that much in four years, she was still that strong, independent, snarky, know it all that was perfectly fine with taking care of herself. Rafe still appreciated that about her... that freedom she always found within herself to live life and not be afraid. Tom sighed in agreement.

"Lets eat you two!" Mama butted in, trying once again to break the tension— and the death glares— between the two men. Jessie moved from her spot back to sit at the bar, the others doing the same as Mama platted everyone's food, including Charley's, who had now re entered the room.

"So is Rafe who you were going to see last week?" Mama asked as she ate over the bar counter in front of them.

"Yeah, actually. I met him in the Bahamas to... tell him about Charley." Jessie answered. Her and Rafe both knew that was a lie, but they couldn't exactly tell the truth. How do you casually mention that you went across the world to take half of what you rightfully own as the wife of a murderer, drug addict and convicted thief of your own brother? Mama and Tom, despite how close they were to Jessie, never truly knew her history, and there was clearly a reason.

Tom put his fork down and swiveled in his chair closer to Rafe. "So what do you do for work son." Tom asked, this time a little friendlier, but not by much.

"Oh, I uh, run my dad's company. He passed away not too long ago so I'm kind of in charge of it now. Cameron Enterprises." Rafe answered, returning the same tone to Tom, friendly, but still not letting his guard down.

"Cameron? Oh! We heard about your dad a couple of weeks ago! Yeah, he was the one who..." Tom began, then realizing what he was about to say.

"Killed himself by blowing up his own boat, yeah." Rafe finished the sentence for him with a calmness in his voice that showed he was oddly un phased. To distract himself from the thought he took a sip of the whiskey and coke in front of him... well, more like a chug.

"Well, we are so sorry, honey." Mama spoke up, putting her hand on Rafe's with a sympathetic look. Jessie knew Rafe never liked pity looks, besides, he never had the best relationship with his father anyways so the loss wasn't as hard as the world may think.

"I appreciate that." Was all Rafe could muster as he pursed his lips together. He really wanted to say it was no big deal, but clearly that would raise some red flags. Instead he opted to grasp the small glass even more firmly. Jessie seemed to be the only one who noticed.

"Yeah, well, that's the main reason I needed to see Rafe. I knew his dad had just passed and as hard as it was to go back and see him, I felt it was only right that Rafe finally know what happened to me and that he had a daughter." Jessie took the moment to capitalize on her story. Truth is, as hard as it was to lie, she knew that Mama and Tom would probably never know the full story, that's just the way it goes when you're tied up with treasure hunts and ruthless tycoons like Ward Cameron.

"And I'm glad she did... she really pulled me out of the pit there." Rafe half smiled as he placed a hand on Jessie's thigh. That was the truth.

"Aw, well we're glad you two have found each other again." Mama simply stated and Tom nodded half heartedly in agreement. It was clear Tom was still fishing for information and looking for something to be wrong. Jessie didn't blame him, it was in Tom's nature just like it was in hers.

"Yeah, about that..." Jessie sighed as she grabbed Rafe's hand, she couldn't tell if it was for his support or hers. Regardless, Rafe squeezed her hand back. "I'm... well, we're... moving back home... to be with Rafe." Jessie finished, almost wincing not wanting to see the look on their faces in response.

Mama and Tom just paused in thought and looked at each other. Tom was quicker to speak than Mama of course.

"What do you mean? You can't be serious. You're gonna go back with the man who you ran away from four years ago just like that? Come on, Jessie, you know better."

"Pop... he's changed. He's not who he used to be. We're going to just try it out. What happened was four years ago. If I can see past it surely you can." Jessie insisted, this time with a hint of annoyance. Tom looked down at his plate and sighed. He finally nodded in agreement, knowing that at the end of the day it just mattered what Jessie wanted and what she felt was right for her and Charley.

"I think we're just... shocked is all. It was like one day you were perfectly fine with the life you had and now..." Mama explained.

"It's all changing. Yeah, I get it." Jessie sympathized. "And I know it's going to be hard and I know there are a lot of things we haven't thought about yet but we're just going to try. We're gonna start by visiting Outer Banks as a family... that's where I used to live." Jessie answered with a soft tone in her voice.

"You used to live steps from the beach and yet you chose to come here?" Mama joked. Jessie and Rafe just laughed.

"Yeah, this was the place I knew I could disappear. You know that, Mama."

"Yeah, I remember darling. I'm just glad you guys are getting another shot at being a family. Pop and I always wanted that for you, but we weren't quite sure it was ever going to happen." Mama ended her sentence with a giggle looking over at Tom. Tom chuckled as well.

"Of course we want the best for you, and hope everything works out, but you better come back and see us!" Tom exclaimed.

"Of course we will! I couldn't imagine a life without you guys." Jessie reassured as she went to give Tom a hug. Rafe sat there with a content smile on his face, silently thanking them for understanding.

"I promise we'll come back to visit as often as we can, and you guys are more than welcome to come see us anytime, my treat." Rafe said as Jessie went to hug Mama also.

"Oh, Tom wouldn't a vacation sound so fun?! Maybe one day we might even be invited to a wedding!" Mama hinted with excitement as she held Jessie's shoulders. Jessie just giggled nervously while looking at Rafe. Rafe smiled and hung his head down as if to prepare for the news they were both about to break.

"Hehe, yeah... about that..." Jessie started as she looked around at Mama and Tom with a clear nervous look. Mama and Tom looked confused as they narrowed their eyebrows.

"We're already married." Rafe chuckled as he threw his hands out awkwardly and slowly nodded his head.

"You got married to this man while you were gone? Thats what you were doing?!" Tom asked as he looked back at Jessie with judgement written all over his face. Oh great, this was about to be the cherry on top.

"Um, no.... We got married four years ago... before things went sour and I left." Jessie replied sheepishly, her posture showing she wanted to physically retreat into whatever shell she could find. There was an awkward pause as everyone tried to collect their thoughts, thankfully Charley was still eating her chicken nuggets happily in the corner and completely oblivious. Finally Tom slowly turned his head back to Rafe with a clear look of anger.

"You let your pregnant wife leave you and you didn't even think to go after her and make this work four years ago?!" Tom exclaimed a little louder than he should have.

"Tom!" Mama whisper-shouted, signally that he needed to keep his voice down. Tom breathed out heavily in frustration but understood.

"I didn't know she was pregnant. Jessie didn't tell me. But either way don't act like you know me, okay? You don't think I tried to find Jessie in every corner of this earth? You don't think I loved her enough to try and find her? Don't insult me like that ever again! You don't know the sleep I lost and worry I couldn't get away from when she left. Hell, that never went away! I never stopped looking for Jessie. There was never a moment when I didn't want to find her." Rafe spat as he got out of his seat and hovered over Tom with a look in his eyes that could kill. Tom didn't take that sitting down- literally- he stood up to meet Rafe with just as much fierceness.

"Well clearly you didn't look hard enough!" Tom retorted, still a little too loudly.

"It's not like I made myself easy to find, Pop! I changed my number, changed where I lived, and everything in between! I knew Rafe wouldn't have let me go that easily, that's the very reason I didn't tell him I was pregnant. I would've stayed and we wouldn't have grown up! But we're adults now and we can handle this! Rafe isn't to blame for all this. I left! This is the last time I'm going to let you fault Rafe over something that happened years ago!" Jessie demanded. Despite all that Rafe had done to Jessie and to many others, Jessie always saw something in Rafe that nobody else did. Rafe was always her Achilles heal, and that's exactly why she left years ago.

"Tom, she's right. You need to settle down." Mama said with a much more serious tone in her voice. Tom took the hint and sighed as he sat back down.

"I'm sorry, Jess, I just-"

"Don't be sorry Pop." Jessie said as she went around the counter to give Tom a hug. "You're like a father to me, you know that. I appreciate that you care so much... but you've gotta trust me on this one." Jessie assured. Tom nodded in agreement and quickly tried to change the subject to something more hopeful.

"So, when you leaving?"

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 34

The small party had been going on for hours, filled with lots of laughs, stories, and just overall a good time with the Pogues. Eventually the party moved from the pool over to the fire pit, with everyone crowded around it making s'mores.

"Be careful doll, hold the stick away from you. Take a step back." JJ suggested as he scooted his niece back a few inches to keep her from getting burned when trying to roast a marshmallow. "And whatever you do... do NOT eat the marshmallow right off the stick. Your uncle JJ has tried to do that too many times and it never ends well."

Charley just giggled in response. Rafe and Jessie were content sitting around the fire watching the Pogues take over watching the toddler. They were definitely more than enough company to keep her occupied and eventually tuckered out for the night.

When Charley started getting fussy is when Jessie decided it was time to say goodnight. She made sure Charley had given everyone hugs and kisses, last but certainly not least, her daddy. The goodbye from Rafe was the hardest for her, as she clung to her father with all her might.

"Charley, it's really time to go to bed. I mean it. Come on, honey." Jessie tried to sooth her daughter, but still with a tone that clearly meant business. It was hard for Rafe not to cling to Charley just as tight as she whined and pressed herself further into his chest. Despite the protests, Jessie scooped up the three year old bridal style and much to her dismay, brought her inside and upstairs to get her changed and tucked in.

"Man, she's really wrapped around your finger isn't she?" JJ asked Rafe as they all watched Jessie walk towards the house.

"Yeah, I'd say so... I don't know why... I definitely don't deserve it." Rafe replied almost appearing a little sunken from the reality that just hit him. He looked down at his beer and sloshed it around.

"Don't say that Rafe. You deserve love too." Sarah consoled.

"Yeah, but... I just think sometimes... if only she knew what her daddy has done." Rafe responded with dejection as he looked down at the ground. For a moment the pogues were let into a different side of Rafe, one that appeared to be remorseful over his past actions. One that they might say was forced to act not out of selfish ambition, but out of being a victim of circumstance, and now only Rafe was left to pick up the pieces shattered in his heart and make sense of the puzzle. Nobody could really do that for him, not even Charley. Ever since Jessie walked back into his life and Ward walked out Rafe had been forced to figure out why he's done the things he has. There was a hush over the fire.

"Yes, but, maybe she's exactly what you need. She thinks you hang the moon, Rafe. And now you have the chance to keep proving that to her for the rest of her life." Sarah said with a smile, feeling like for the first time in years there was truly some hope for her brother.

Rafe only nodded and smiled. If he wasn't around the pogues he probably would have gotten much more emotional. He didn't even feel like he was worth a redemption story, not from Charley, the pogues, and certainly not Jessie, but here they all were.

Once Jessie finally got Charley soothed and sleeping, she went over to the closet that housed the few belongings that she brought with her. She grabbed the photo albums she insisted on taking.

Jessie walked back outside to see everyone still around the fire, drinking and making casual conversation. Rafe seemed ironically in his element. Jessie had never seen Rafe this comfortable at any of the ragers they used to attend back in the day. Once his coke addiction got really bad, eventually those parties just turned into more opportunities for Rafe to fight someone or give Jessie a hard time for being such a "goodie two shoes" for simply not wanting Rafe to get violent. Jessie was by no means a rule follower, but compared to the road Rafe was headed down at the time, she was a saint. He always had a tendency to be volatile and unpredictable when he was drunk and high. But tonight, he was surprisingly subdued. Jessie figured maybe he was restraining his alcohol on purpose nowadays. She didn't mind.

Jessie made her way over to an empty chair beside JJ, who was in the middle of debating John B about the best way to catch crawfish. Not wanting to interrupt, Jessie made eye contact with Rafe from across the fire, to see his perfectly lit face giving her a soft smile as if to say I see you. Finally Jessie decided to politely butt in by tapping JJ on the shoulder, to which her brother whipped his head around with knitted eyebrows.

"I brought some photo albums of Charley from back home... would you like to see?"

Before Jessie could even finish her question JJ immediately paid much more attention to his sister, seemingly about to jump out of his chair with excitement.

"Yes, yes!" JJ replied as he gripped onto the chair for stability. Everyone laughed at how giddy JJ became at the mention of seeing old memories of Charley. Soon enough all the pogues gathered around the siblings to admire the sweet moments as well. Rafe watched contently as he sipped his beer knowing he had already has his moment with Jessie to see the pictures.

"Oh my gosh. Rafe! She looked just like you even as a baby!" Sarah commented as she flipped through photos of Charley's first birthday party.

"Yeah, and I'm digging the biker theme." Pope joked, hinting at the theme of said birthday party. Charley was adorned in her first biker jacket, one that was custom made for the Manhattan Mayhem, their youngest member to date no doubt. In the picture Charley could be seen playing with a toy motor cycle in between Jessie's legs who was smiling down at her daughter.

"Mama and Tom insisted. We actually had her birthday party at an underground bar in downtown Manhattan before we opened that day." Jessie said followed by a chuckle. "I think they actually want to come up here and spend some time with us now that they know we're moving up here."

"Aren't they like... actual gang members?" Kiara asked, trying to not seem judgmental but failing miserably. Jessie only looked down and laughed, eventually making eye contact with Kie.

"Yeah." Jessie simply stated as she furrowed her eyebrows waiting for a response from the pogues.

"So they've like, knocked some heads and shit?" JJ asked as he took a sip of his beer, still very interested.

"Yeah, I've heard some stories." Jessie replied with another giggle.

"Well do tell." John B piped up as he sat his chin on his hand and wiggled his eyebrows.

"You do realize that I'm technically in the same gang they are, so I took an oath. Snitches get stitches." Jessie responded as she put her hand to her heart and then held it up in the air as if she were swearing on the Bible.

"Dude, seriously? I knew you were hard, but, I never thought you would actually join a gang." JJ laughed, not seeming too disappointed at the idea.

"Yeah, well, what have we all learned here tonight?" Jessie asked with a lighthearted smile as she looked around the fire.

"My wife's an outlaw." Rafe responded with a smirk and another sip of his beer.

"Always has been." JJ joked back, looking at Rafe.

"Okay, but, like, how did that work with Charley? I mean you were in a gang and had a kid." Sarah asked, seeming genuinely curious.

"Well, honestly, I joined the gang in the first place because I felt that with me about to have Charley in this brand new big city, I would need some sort of community, especially one that could protect us. And when I moved into the apartment building that inevitably housed over half of MM and Tom and Maci hired me to work for them, it all just kind of clicked." Jessie said with a shrug of her shoulders as if it was nothing. The look on the pogues faces said otherwise.

"So like, were you... initiated? What'd you have to do? Isn't that stuff like pretty brutal?" Pope asked. Jessie just took a big deep breath and pursed her lips.

"I took an oath. Can't say." Was all Jessie said as she raised her hand up again.

"Man, she's got this shit locked air tight." JJ replied almost with a hint of annoyance. Everyone, including Rafe, just giggled.

"Well, it's been fun but we all better head back to the Chat before I get too drunk to drive." John B joked as he got up from his chair.

"Are you sure you guys don't want to stay here tonight? You're more than welcome to crash." Jessie offered with kind eyes.

"No offense... but I'm never sleeping in that house again if I can help it." Sarah joked as she got up from her chair as well.

"I do not blame you for that one." Jessie laughed as she got up to exchange hugs with her sister in law. The rest followed suit.

Rafe and Jessie waved the pogues goodbye from the fire pit as they held each other close and swayed, trying to catch just a few silent minutes to themselves.

"Why did you not just show them your MM tattoo? You know they're probably thinking you were hazed and shit for your initiation." Rafe joked as he looked down at Jessie, who had her arms wrapped around his torso looking up at him just the same.

"One, because of street cred. Two, because they'll see it eventually when we go to the beach or something. And three, because technically you weren't even supposed to know the circumstances under which I got that tattoo." Jessie sassed.

"Yeah, well it's really hard to hide from your significant other. And by the way, your initation was lame." Rafe replied with sass evident on his face.

"I was pregnant with your child." Jessie scoffed. "Would you rather me have taken a beating or gotten alcohol poisoning like I was in some frat?" She joked. They both laughed in contentment, eventually falling to a comfortable silence. Jessie still managed to keep her true initiation a secret from Rafe, and she always would. Truth is, despite Rafe knowing her better than anyone else, she still felt the need to protect him from that mental image of what Tom made her do when she first agreed to be apart of MM. The tattoo was just the tip of the iceberg when it came to all the ruthless things she carried out as a respected gang member. Jessie could see that suddenly Rafe looked deep in thought.

"I would rather you have stayed here with me where I could've protected you instead of someone else." Rafe said in a regretful, hushed tone. Jessie could see the sadness in his eyes.

"Rafe... you know you wouldn't have been in a headspace to protect me. That's why I-"

"I know." Rafe whispered, clearly not angry, just hurt. Hurt mostly at the sting of realizing that Jessie was right. He played stupid games, and he won a stupid prize.

"But..." Jessie said as she moved her arms from Rafe's torso up to around his neck. "... the important thing is now that you're ready for us to be a family. So that's what we're doing. And I'm proud of you. Thank you." Jessie said in a tone that conveyed genuine thanks. No words were said, yet they both conveyed looks of love and adoration for the other. Rafe simply leaned down to plant a gentle but passionate kiss on Jessie.

"Let's go inside." Rafe whispered as he broke away and took Jessie's hand in his. Jessie wrapped her arm around Rafe's and laid her head on his arm as they walked the short distance back up to the house. Rafe unlocked the door and gestured for Jessie to come inside, eventually closing the door behind her, only to be met with the most terrifying and unexpected sight they'd ever seen. A sight that instantly made Rafe's world crash and burn like it once did before.

"Hello, Rafe."

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 40

There Rafe stood, begging in the closet with Jessie's back still turned away. She hadn't moved a single item in the suitcase since Rafe started pleading with her through tears. He at least appreciated that he had her attention.

Please don't leave me again, Jessie heard Rafe say. She wanted to look at him so badly, wanted to run up to him, hold him in her arms and beg him not to cry anymore. But she was at war with herself, still not allowing herself to forget what happened downstairs just mere minutes ago. Jessie took a deep breath to prepare herself for the sight she was about to behold, she knew behind her was a man desperate to keep what he lost, and although she wanted to capitalize on that fact, she felt that would be more than a little manipulative.

"Rafe..." Jessie whispered with a dejected sigh. She stood up slowly and turned to face Rafe with a sad look on her face. She took a few steps towards him and cupped his face in her hands. The motion should've made Rafe melt, instead it paralyzed him, still knowing that Jessie could be absolutely unpredictable when it came to protecting her peace and safety.

"I'm not gonna leave you." Jessie whispered with a tenderness in her eyes and voice. "But I am allowed to be upset with you over what happened. I am allowed to be confused about what happened down there. I'm not gonna lie and tell you that you didn't break some of the trust that I had in you." Jessie choked out, still holding onto Rafe's face, at this point both of them tears rolling down their face. Through sniffles Rafe simply nodded in understanding, not having the courage to utter any words even though he really wanted to.

"It just seems like one step forwards, three steps back with us sometimes." Jessie trailed off as she kept the eye contact with Rafe. At that Rafe had to look down at the carpet underneath them, not being able to withstand the weight of the words. Rafe slowly nodded his head up and down and tried his hardest to choke back a sob. He knew Jessie was right. It seemed their whole relationship was always a series of unfortunate events, half of them most certainly being Rafe's fault. He knew she was right in being a little less trusting of him now, still the allegation killed him inside, and he could've sworn he felt his heart tighten and flutter.

"Have you been using again?" Jessie asked still barely above a whisper with sad knitted brows. Rafe shot his head up with surprise.

"What? No, Jess, I-I promise." Rafe sniffled. Jessie didn't believe him and that showed on her face, a look of doubt evident. Jessie knew Rafe inside and out. More importantly in this moment, she knew the mind of any drug addict inside and out, seeing the patterns of her dad, her husband, and even herself. With Rafe having to kill his own father and dealing with all the amenities of having to cover it up, deal with the business, and everything in between, it would be the perfect storm for a newly clean drug addict to relapse. She had seen her dad, herself, and even Rafe relapse over much smaller matters.

***

Tonight was a night that Jessie had grown to see more consistently. It was a typical Friday night in Kildare and the secret husband and wife decided to dawn the doors of a party on the beach. Much like the first night they met just months ago, everyone would be there.

Rafe had just gotten back from a business trip with his father, undoubtedly contributing to his very visible stress. Between being away from his Jessie and dealing with Ward's demands and opinions, it was another perfect excuse for Rafe to get high once again. Jessie never cared about getting high or drunk, clearly she enjoyed the act a little too much herself at times. The problem was now that Rafe continuously let it get out of hand, and he had become a different man because of it, one that she couldn't predict or trust completely.

Jessie knew Rafe would be particularly on edge tonight given the past week being less than an ideal use of his time in his mind. She already had her guard up before the party even started, making sure to be on time and ready to go when Rafe pulled up into her driveway to pick her up.

Jessie walked out on her porch dawning a black and white checkered string bikini, only coverage being some jean shorts over the top of her bottoms. Rafe's favorite.

"Rafe's going to be here in a second, just a heads up." Jessie said nonchalantly looking at her father, who was smoking a cigarette and tinkering with whatever motor was seated in front of him at the moment.

"You think I give a shit where you're going or who you're going with?" Luke growled, not bothering to look up from his work, simply blowing a cloud of smoke between his lips.

"Well I felt it was only fair to let you know considering he beat the shit out of you a couple weeks ago." Jessie sassed back with sharp eyes that her father still had failed to meet. However, that comment was exactly what pulled his gaze to his daughter.

"Oh yeah? And who's fault was that?" Luke retorted, clearly unamused. Jessie didn't want to start an argument, especially not considering Rafe was about to be there, so instead of telling her father off like she was so naturally inclined to do, she simply de escalated the discussion.

"Whatever, Luke, just forget I said anything." Jessie responded as she walked off the porch, seeing Rafe pull in.

"Hey." Luke whistled, trying to get his daughter's attention. Jessie looked back as if to implore him to go on. "If you're gonna dress like a slut at least make sure you get paid to do it. I know that boy's got money."

Jessie wasn't even shocked by the comment, instead she just scoffed and walked off, really wanting to give her father the middle finger, but deciding against it given that, again, she was not in the mood to start anything.

Rafe had his truck window rolled down and his arm hanging out the window with a displeased look on his face. Jessie wondered what had happened already for him to look so pissed. Her smile quickly faded as she noticed and hesitantly walked around to the passenger side, opening her door and sliding in.

"Hey baby." Jessie said enthusiastically, trying to gauge what his face was for. Rafe didn't falter, not saying a word, only looking at Jessie with pursed lips. "What?" she asked, now with annoyance, not exactly the greeting she had hopes for after a long week of not seeing him.

"You didn't tell me that prick was gonna be here." Rafe snapped, still not moving from his spot in the driveway. Jessie just looked back at the porch confused.

"Uh.. I didn't think it was big deal considering you were just picking me up."

Rafe just scoffed. "You do realize I still wanna beat the shit out of him right?"

"You already did, and I'm pretty sure that's why he hasn't come over here telling you to get out of his yard yet." Jessie joked. Rafe just shook his head, not in the joking mood.

"I wish he would." Rafe challenged with a look towards Luke that could kill. He eventually looked back at his wife. "He hasn't put his hands on you since then has he?"

Jessie only nodded her head no slowly as she looked at Rafe with loving eyes, suddenly appreciative that he cared so much.

"Let's get out of here." Jessie said playfully as she looked at Rafe with lust, trying anything at this point to get him to calm down and enjoy the night. Rafe understood and returned her words with a smirk and the shift of his truck.

The two of them finally rolled up to the party, making sure to bring their own alcohol for the coolers. Before Rafe got out of the truck, Jessie put her hand on his thigh to stop him. He looked back at her confused. Jessie leaned in to trace her fingers along his jawline.

"I missed you." Jessie whispered looking at Rafe's lips and then back up at him. Rafe melted at her touch, suddenly feeling more of the stress from the past week slowly melting away as their lips finally connected. Jessie eventually tangled her fingers in Rafe's hair as much as she could considering she was working against the black backwards hat he was wearing.

"I missed you too." Rafe mumbled against Jessie's lips, pulling her in closer with his own hand around her neck. As they finally untangled themselves from each other, Jessie noticed something in Rafe's eyes.

"Have you used today?" Jessie asked, already knowing the answers due to the bloodshot and watery eyes of her husband. He also already smelled like alcohol.

"Baby, I've used every day since I went to the mainland with my dad." Rafe joked with a charming smile as if it was no big deal. Jessie didn't say anything, only looking down from Rafe with a disappointed look.

"I thought you said you were gonna cut back once we got back from Charlotte. Rafe, you know it's getting out of hand." Jessie scolded.

"Jess, it's been really stressful this week, you know that. You know how it is." Rafe whispered, still not wanting to kill the mood between them. "Please don't start this." He said a little more annoyed. Jessie decided to let it go like she had a few times before, allowing her face to change showing a half hearted smile. Rafe knew it was fake, but he still decided to capitalize on it.

"You look good." Rafe smirked, trying to go in a different direction with the conversation. He slowly creeped his hand up Jessie's torso. "You mad at me?" Rafe asked with a seductive pause. "Take it out on me." He teased with a sly smile. It was hard for Jessie to hold back considering how cocky Rafe was being, and she definitely missed his body while he was gone. She quite enjoyed his attitude knowing that it was a stark difference from the clean cut kid she first got involved with, but she couldn't get carried away just yet.

"Later." Jessie scoffed as she leaned back over to open her door.

"I'm counting on that." Rafe joked as he got out as well.

"I'm sure you are." Jessie rolled her eyes as she walked to the tailgate to open it so Rafe could get their cooler. It was filled to the brim with their drinks of choice. Jessie had no doubt that Rafe had some extra special stuff in his short pockets. That was most certainly the trend for a while now.

A couple hours had passed and the sun had finally gone down. The air became crisp and the breeze felt nice. Rafe was now sitting on their cooler around the bonfire, and Jessie was sitting on Rafe's lap. There was a perfectly good seat beside Rafe, but Jessie knew he was particularly handsy tonight given how he had been without her for a whole week. Rafe kept his hands on Jessie in some form the entire night, not out of possession, but out of obsession.

"JJ, hand me some of that." Jessie said across the fire with an extended hand hinting at the joint he had in his hand.

"Get your own, sis." JJ sassed, clearly not meaning anything by it.

"Alright, fine, give me one of the ones in your pocket." Jessie sassed right back, knowing better than to think that was the only one JJ had. JJ rolled his eyes and walked over to his sister and dug one out of his front pocket. Jessie stuck it between her lips as JJ lit the joint for her. Jessie handed the joint to Rafe, knowing he was waiting on it as well. Sure enough, he took a drag in satisfaction and blew the smoke the other direction.

"Hey, dude, if you're gonna smoke my weed you could at least take your hand out of my sister's ass. I know you've missed her and shit this week but you got her propped on you like a puppet." JJ remarked as he went to go sit back down. A slew of "oohs" and "burns" could be heard around the fire followed by laughs, even a chuckle from Rafe. Jessie knew he was relaxed now.

"Don't worry, man. We were just about to leave." Rafe mumbled with a smirk, everyone knowing what that meant. Rafe gave Jessie a love tap to signal to her to get up, to which she did. More whoops and hollers could be heard around the fire as well. JJ just looked disgusted.

"You better get it all out before I get home. I don't wanna hear that shit again."

"If you wait too long we might do it in your bed." Jessie joked with a sly smile. Everyone laughed.

"You better not!" JJ demanded as he pointed at the two of them.

"Relax, man... we're not even gonna make it back to your house." Rafe laughed.

"Yeah, okay, you two can go now." JJ said as he physically tried to shake the images out of his head, taking another big chug of his beer. Jessie and Rafe laughed as they walked hand in hand down the beach. Rafe was definitely drunk, which was the only reason he was able to joke so openly with JJ about railing his sister. Jessie was just glad that Rafe hadn't picked a fight with anyone tonight, as that was becoming his routine when he got strung out enough.

The two teenagers walked hand in hand with a content silence between the two of them, both of them at least tipsy and a little stoned. They didn't get very far before a familiar voice was heard behind them, someone was clearly flagging Rafe down.

"Hey man, hey, over here!" Kelce whistled, another friend that Jessie wasn't fond of, but he was most certainly a step up from Topper. Rafe and Jessie both whipped around, Rafe's goofy girn a little bigger than Jessie's of course. Jessie was clearly hoping to get some alone time with Rafe, but Rafe seemed easily distracted at the moment.

"Yeah, man, what's up?" Rafe asked, still managing to hold onto Jessie's hand with a beer in the other.

"You got any more lines? Night's still young ya know." Kelce hinted as he playfully tapped Rafe on the shoulder and wiggled his eyebrows.

"Hell, yeah man! I've got some more in the truck." Rafe replied as he began walking back towards the party, he stopped quickly once he noticed the displeased look on Jessie's face, and that she had dropped her hand and stood in the same place. Rafe said something to Kelce that she couldn't hear and with that Kelce was off back to the party and Rafe came back to Jessie with a confused look.

"What's wrong?" Rafe questioned.

"What's wrong? What's wrong?" Jessie scoffed. "I haven't seen you all week and you're just gonna be pissy, on edge, and now get strung out with your friend the second you get back?"

"Hey look, baby, I told you it's been a rough week... I need this." Rafe whispered as he tried to grab Jessie's arm with a sincere look on his face. Jessie pulled away.

"Yeah, well maybe I need you? Maybe I haven't seen you all week and we're still playing this stupid game of being married under wraps and now you're still using just as much as you were before. You have a problem, Rafe. You say you're gonna cut back and then you relapse over the dumbest shit and I-"

"Hey," Rafe tried to soothe. "It's gonna be okay, I promise, alright? I just need this tonight, and we'll be husband and wife to the rest of the world soon enough. So come with me?" Rafe asked as he extended his hand with a hopeful look.

"I'm staying right here. You go have fun." Jessie said clearly sarcastically as she sat down on the sand and smoked her joint, not daring to look back at Rafe.

"Jessie, I-"

"You better go. You're gonna wanna be high when you come back to get me."

Rafe knew Jessie now needed time to herself, as she always got really defensive when someone-he- made her upset. Against his better judgement, he decided to go and give her some time to cool down. Rafe managed to slip past the party virtually undetected and back to his truck to meet Kelce for a line.

Jessie sat on the beach smoking her joint all alone, like she had done so many times past. In an odd way, she missed it. But she'd still rather be with Rafe. She knew first hand how hard it was to struggle with addiction, but Rafe always managed to take it way farther than Jessie ever did, allowing the drugs to take over his whole life, shape his personality, corrupt his character, and give him a lame ass excuse for doing so. She hated who he's become, yet she felt responsible for creating it.

Jessie heard footsteps, but when she looked up she noticed that they were not Rafe's. In fact, it was none other than an old flame of hers, one she regretted ever hooking up with long before Rafe entered the picture.

"What do you want, Dylan?" Jessie asked, clearly annoyed and not daring to spare him another glance. She took another hit of the weed in her hand, knowing she would need it to get through this conversation. Dylan was nothing more than a drunk hookup to her, but he never could seem to get that through his thick skull and always managed to show up at just the wrong time.

"Just thought I'd come check on you..." Dylan said with a concerned voice that Jessie knew was fake.

"What you spying on me now?" Jessie seethed as she looked up at the brown haired boy with a red solo cup in his hand. He was from Jessie's side of the island.

"Nah, really just spyin on Rafe, that kook needs an attitude adjustment." Dylan joked as he made himself comfortable beside Jessie. "But you were always good at that."

"Look, Dyl, I don't need your help here, alright?" Jessie couldn't help but call the kid by his nickname, even though she clearly wasn't interested, they had always been civil.

"Come on Jess, what does that dude have on you? There's no way you'd be dating a kook for this long without something being in it for you." Dylan hinted as he tried to look into Jessie's eyes despite her turning her head out towards the water.

"You don't know anything about me." Jessie said with a slight laugh as she blew another cloud of smoke.

"I know that you don't commit. That's why it never worked between us... so what the hell does he have that I don't?"

"Dylan, you knew from the very beginning you were nothing more than a fling, so why did you get so attached in the first place?" Jessie asked with sarcasm laced in her tone. Dylan always loved that she was consistently a cocky little shit. Before he could answer, they both were interrupted.

"What the hell is going on here?" Rafe asked barreling towards the two with a new beer bottle in hand and furrowed brows. Surprisingly, neither one of them looked concerned. Jessie just rolled her eyes as the two of them both got up.

"Well I was coming to check on your girl after you left her for god knows what reason." Dylan spat, now taking a few steps towards Rafe.

"Oh, yeah? My girl can handle herself." Rafe sassed back as he took a few strides towards the pogue in return.

"Yeah, clearly she can because she's out here on this beach all alone smoking a joint like you don't exist!" Dylan laughed. "I don't even know why you're here. Hell, I bet she doesn't even need you in the bedroom-"

That comment was enough to set Rafe over the edge, shoving his drink in Jessie's chest before she could say a word. Rafe lunged for the pogue and shoved him, causing him to take a couple steps back.

"You don't know what the hell you're talking about man." Rafe mumbled as he took fist fulls of Dylan's shirt and began to back him up towards the water.

"Oh don't I? I bet I kept her way more satisfied than you ever di-"

Rafe didn't allow anymore words to come out of his mouth before he landed a solid punch to Dylan's jaw, the two of them now in a full on brawl.

"Both of you cut it out right now!" Jessie screamed over the top of them. Thankfully, the party wasn't too far away, so when Jessie realized she most certainly wasn't going to be able to break up the fight happening, she ran back to the top of the beach and yelled for JJ and a few others to help.

By the time Jessie came back with reinforcements, Dylan was found being held under the waves by Rafe, gasping for air whenever the waves subsided just enough. Rafe had a look on his face that showed not a sliver of remorse, only determination.

"Dude! Get off of him!" JJ demanded with John B and Pope in tow. The blonde managed to knock Rafe off his feet as he leaned into him with all his strength. Rafe and JJ both fell into the water, Rafe foaming at the mouth at this point. Before Rafe could get back on his feet, Dylan had managed to get up on all fours and cough the water out of his lungs, still hazed and gasping for air. Rafe finally regained his balance and was going back for round two when JJ, John B, and Pope all stood in front of him to push him back.

"Rafe, stop!" Jessie demanded as she stood in between the two feuding men, one of them still on the ground regaining consciousness.

"He deserves it Jessie, you know it!" Rafe yelled between the three Pogues holding him back. Jessie didn't respond, she simply looked over at her old flame and bent down to his level.

"You need to get out of here." Jessie whispered, although it sounded more like a plea. Dylan simply looked up with watery eyes and heavy breaths, giving her a look that showed he had more to say. Rather than risk being put to sleep by Rafe, he simply dragged himself to his feet and waded through the water back to the party.

"Hey you better be glad my girl just saved your ass!" Rafe yelled loud enough for the party to hear. Dylan simply shook his head, not even looking back, and gave Rafe a middle finger. Dylan knew he had just proved an even bigger point, whether he was successful in hooking up with Jessie again or not.

"Rafe! Shut it!" Jessie screamed as she looked at her husband with judgement and a hint of annoyance.

"Jess are you okay?" JJ asked breathless, still trying to regain his composure.

"What happened?" Pope asked.

"That pogue was trying to get with Jessie!" Rafe answered. The three pogues just glanced at Rafe with a look that said we didn't ask you.

Jessie sighed. "Rafe left me... for a second.. and Dylan popped up outta nowhere..."

"Like he always does." John B finished the sentence with a knowing look and hands on his hips.

"I'm fine." Jessie said, clearly playing with a short fuse. All she could do was stare at Rafe with fire behind her eyes and clinched fists. The boys could tell that comment was not meant to soothe them, it was meant to prove a point to Rafe.

"Alright well... we're gonna go." JJ said awkwardly as he pointed back up to the beach.

"What the hell is wrong with you Rafe? I had that shit under control!"

"No you didn't! You know what game he was playing! And what the hell was he talking about him being better than me in bed and shit, huh?"

"He was a random ass hookup before you that meant nothing! He was trying to get back into my pants tonight like he always does but I had it under control!"

Rafe didn't say anything, instead he looked at Jessie with a perfect mix of confusion, anger, and hurt. Jessie just shook her head.

"No... no, okay, you don't get to look at me like that."

"Like what?" Rafe asked through gritted teeth and knotted up fists.

"Like I'm some sort of slut that shouldn't have had a life before you! You knew what you got yourself into! Besides, you don't get to be mad at me for how tonight has turned out. None of this was my fault!" Jessie snapped back with just as much vengeance.

"So once again it's all my fault, huh?" Rafe laughed as he put his hands on his hips and shook his head. "God, this is so typical of you, Jess. Always blaming anyone but yourself like you weren't the one that hooked up with him in the first place. You should've told him to go to hell the second you saw him. You wanted him didn't you?"

"You're ridiculous! Do you hear yourself right now?" Jessie scoffed. "You act like we're not m-" Jessie had to stop her sentence right there, knowing they weren't exactly in private and everyone at the party could've heard them. Jessie sighed. "Let's just go home." Jessie said defeated.

"We'll finish this in the truck." Rafe pointed with determination as he walked past his wife, both of them still chomping at the bit to fire more words.

Rafe and Jessie both stomped back up to the beach, ignoring the party going on around them. Despite the looks of concern and pity, Rafe grabbed the cooler and walked back to his truck, Jessie not far behind.

The two both drove away in silence, neither of them quite sure where they were heading considering they hadn't discussed whose bed they'd be sleeping in tonight. At this point, Jessie wouldn't be surprised if Rafe dropped her off at her house without one more word.

To her surprise, Rafe pulled over into a random gravel road where they couldn't be seen, throwing the truck in park and looking at the wheel with words in his mind playing against his lips.

Jessie, being just as stubborn as Rafe, didn't feel the need to look at him either, instead opting for the dash in front of her that suddenly seemed so interesting. Jessie didn't feel like she had to say anything else, mainly because she didn't think she had done anything wrong. Then again, Rafe didn't think he had done anything wrong either.

Rafe finally decided to scrap his speech and opted to quickly flip the center console up above his head to reveal the middle seat. He grabbed Jessie's face before she even knew what was happening, let alone protest. Rafe crashed his lips onto hers violently and with so much passion Jessie couldn't pull away no matter how much she wanted to. She wanted to fix this, or at least prove her point, but all bets were off as soon as Rafe pushed Jessie up against the passenger side window and began to pepper her neck with hard kisses.

As much as Jessie didn't want to admit it, this is exactly what she needed to take the attitude right out of her, and Rafe knew it. They both had been without each other for too long to ignore the desire.

"Rafe..." Jessie begged as she tried to hold her hands under her so she wouldn't give into touching him like he was touching her.

"Shh" Rafe replied, never letting his hands stop roaming her body. "You still mad at me?" Rafe asked barely above a tantalizing whisper. Jessie just whimpered, clearly at a loss for words. Luckily, Rafe didn't need words, he knew Jessie was still mad at him, and make up sex was his favorite kind to have, a kind that had been a recent trend for the couple. "Take it out on me." Rafe said in a hushed tone in Jessie's ear as he went back to her neck, finding his way lower and lower to her bikini clad chest.

Jessie couldn't take it anymore. She needed him as bad as Rafe needed her in that moment, and she'd be lying if she said she hadn't been thinking about that all week long. Rafe's last words was the last push she needed to forget what had just happened at the beach.

Jessie finally freed her hands from underneath her and pushed Rafe back over to the driver side, not out of anger, but out of pure lust. Rafe could tell she was hungry for it, and he smirked as he watched Jessie meet him on the drivers side and straddle him. He returned the favor by taking her face in his hands and kissing her roughly, holding her back careful not to lay her directly on the truck horn. They had learned that lesson the hard way. Through kisses, Jessie had managed to take Rafe's hat and shirt off.

"You looked so good tonight." Rafe mumbled against Jessie's lips, his fingers finding the strings on her bikini top. He played with them in between his fingers, knowing that the slow movement really got Jessie going. Jessie didn't say anything, she only moaned into the kiss. "You made it really hard to wait for this." Rafe said as he pulled the string loose around Jessie's neck, causing her halter to fall down slightly. He then began to play with the string wrapped around her ribs.

"So stop waiting." Jessie simply stated between kisses, her hands now just as wild as his. That was all the confirmation Rafe needed before he slammed her down on the seat beside him.

That night was not the first time they took their frustrations out on each other, their pure adrenaline and desire for each other having the power to melt away any doubt or anger, and it most certainly wouldn't be the last.

***

"Jessie, I promise." Rafe said with much more ferver in his voice, finding some newfound confidence in his words. "Of course I've thought about it but... no, I haven't been using. I promised myself that if I ever got you back I would stop. The second you walked in my door I didn't touch that stuff, and still haven't." Rafe replied as he stuck his hand up in the air beside him as if to swear on the Bible. Jessie was convinced he would've testified in a courtroom if he had the chance. She believed him, thinking that maybe the bloodshot eyes and the volatile emotions and actions were really just a side effect of the most traumatizing twenty four hours of her husband's life.

"Okay," Jessie whispered as she nodded her head. "But I'm still allowed to feel differently towards you after what happened." Jessie said a little more sternly.

"Absolutely, I.... I just hate that I ever gave you a reason not to trust me." Rafe responded, once again trying to choke back tears. He couldn't help but feel like this would also damage his relationship with Charley, or at least what Jessie thought of him as a father. "I hope this won't effect how you let me see Charley."

"Right now I would just stay focused on how I view you." Jessie snapped back with a hint of sass but still mostly sadness.

"Right. I'm sorry, Jessie."

"You're going to have to earn some of my trust back... but I know you can. I've seen you do it before. I forgive you." Jessie replied numbly. Her mind was racing, with the main thought being that she hoped she wouldn't come to regret this.

Rafe couldn't help but crack a smile, leaning in for a hug and wrapping his arms around her tightly for fear of her disappearing. To his surprise Jessie reciprocated. Truth is, Jessie needed that hug just as much as Rafe did, because as angry and confused as Jessie was, there was still only one person in this world that she wanted. There was still only one person in this world that could melt all her fears away with one touch. Rafe. Jessie held onto Rafe just as tightly as Rafe held onto her.

"I love you." Rafe whispered into Jessie's hair. She hesitated, but still she replied.

"I love you too, Rafe."

To his behest, Rafe broke away, still being sure to hold Jessie close In his arms.

"Let's get outta here." He said with a small smile.

With that, Jessie went to packing the rest of the suitcase while Rafe grabbed some clothes of his own out of the closet, packing them in his own carry on. Eventually both of them made their way back into Rafe's bedroom, Rafe going towards the bedside table, and Jessie going towards the dresser that was on the opposite side of the room.

Jessie made her way to the dresser, finding the object she figured would still be there. In a hurry last night she left her diamond ring on the dresser, in that moment only caring about grabbing her most prized possession, her daughter. Jessie looked behind to see Rafe was still messing with stuff in the bedside table. She turned back around to play with the ring and roll it along the wooden dresser, carefully admiring the flecks the rectangular diamond gave off in the warm light. She couldn't help but contemplate everything as she watched the ring go in between her fingers.

What she didn't know was Rafe was on the other side of the room contemplating his own mental obstacle course himself. Rafe opened up the bedside table to grab the accessories to his gun, only to reach too far back and find an old bag of white powdery substance that couldn't be mistaken for his old vice. He looked behind him to see Jessie playing with something on the dresser, and rather than ask her what she was looking at, he took the opportunity to roll the tight, plastic bag in between his calloused fingers. Looking at the bag he couldn't really tell himself what he was going to do with it-- he truly didn't know, but for some odd reason that he couldn't explain, he didn't want to leave it behind. With that, he stuffed the baggie into his duffel bag.

Despite Jessie contemplating if now was the right time to physically show her semblance to Rafe, she finally slid the ring on her finger, admiring it on her hand as she stuck it out like every girl can't help but do. She remembered the first time she ogled the ring with a love and excitement in her heart so strong she couldn't contain it. This time of course felt different, but she knew that the feeling wasn't going to last forever, often times it would come and go, and she treated today as one of those days. Despite the excitement not being there, the love still was, that she was sure of. That was what scared her the most.

Finally both of them turned towards each other right about the same time and looked into each other's eyes with half-hearted smiles, neither one of them knowing the mental gymnastics the other just went through.

Like so many times before, that moment was a moment where Jessie would choose Rafe, and Rafe would choose a familiar vice.

I'll Come Running - R.C. - Chapter 32

Charley laid on the bed, still trying to wake up, as Jessie and Rafe got ready in the bathroom connected to Rafe's bedroom. Rafe of course was done getting ready before Jessie was, so he decided to help Charley get ready for the day.

Jessie eventually walked outside the bathroom and over to Rafe's desk to put on her usual dainty necklace and island bracelets. As she was doing so, she noticed Rafe went over to his bedside table and opened the drawer to reveal a pistol. He then stuck it behind his back in his waistband. Charley was in the floor playing on the other side of the room, so thankfully, she didn't see the exchange. Jessie, on the other hand, noticed every move.

"You just have a gun laying around in your night stand?!" Jessie whisper-yelled as she came closer to Rafe. Rafe was a little taken back by Jessie's response, he scrunched his brows together, showing confusion.

"I had a gun there four years ago when we were together and you knew about it then? Why do you care about it now?" Rafe asked, genuinely just curious, not trying to seem defensive. Jessie just exhaled and looked over at their daughter. Words were not needed for Rafe to follow what she was communicating.

Rafe slowly nodded and looked back at Jessie with understanding. He took one step further and grabbed Jessie's hands.

"I know that this probably worries you, with it being so easily accessible, but, baby, you know it's for protection." Rafe whispered with sympathy as he looked in Jessie's eyes.

"But do you really have to have it so close to where our daughter is sleeping?" Jessie asked with just as much sympathy. They both were genuinely trying to understand their differences in that moment, which was something neither one of them would have been mature enough to do four years ago. Rafe sighed and looked at the ground.

"Yes, baby. If it's anywhere else and something happens I'm not gonna be able to get to it in time and protect you and Charley." Rafe explained gently, still holding onto Jessie's hands.

"But couldnt you just, like, put a lock on it or something?" Jessie asked once again, still trying to meet Rafe in the middle.

"Jess... you know that's not any better than putting it out of my reach.  Seconds matter and if I-"

"Okay, okay..." Jessie trailed off, getting slightly annoyed. Rafe sighed and brought Jessie closer.

"Just like you taught Charley not to touch hot or fragile things, we will teach her not to go to the bedside table. But even more than that, she wont be staying in here forever. She will have her own space and not many reasons to come in here eventually." Rafe assured as he hugged Jessie tight. Jessie just exhaled and nodded as she laid her head on Rafe's chest. She had to learn to trust him with these things, especially when it came to his daughter.

"I have her best interest at heart too, baby." Rafe whispered as he kissed Jessie's head. Jessie knew he was right, he couldn't live with himself if Charley ever got hurt, but that was the main reason he kept the gun there in the first place. Jessie decided to let it go.

"Besides, you know I've got too many enemies around here to walk around without something." Rafe joked as he pulled away from Jessie.

"That is not funny." Jessie said completely serious. She did not appreciate mob mentality, even though she knew as Rafe's wife she was more than apart of it now. Who was she kidding, she had been apart of mob mentality long before she even met Rafe, and that didn't change when she was in Manhattan. Rafe just giggled.

"I'm not going to let anything happen to my girls, I promise." Rafe said a little more seriously, but still with a smile in an attempt to lighten the mood. Jessie simply nodded in agreement and smiled as a silent thank you. With that, they were off to breakfast.

The three of them had arrived to a local breakfast spot right on the bay, overlooking the water. They decided against the Island Club, figuring that was still too much of a hot spot for them to be seen given that every wound was still fresh. Ward, Rose, and Wheezie's untimely death, Rafe's disappearance... and reappearance, Sarah's excommunication, oh, and now Jessie was back... with Rafe's kid. Yeah, too many questions for the young family to answer on their second day back home.

Charley loved her pancakes and bacon, and Jessie did too. Rafe enjoyed his breakfast sandwich.

"We need to get groceries after this, like seriously we have nothing in that house." Jessie laughed as she continued to eat her pancakes.

"Alright, we'll go to the store and grab stuff." Rafe agreed through bites of his sandwich. Rafe suddenly caught a glimpse of a man he knew all too well walking into the restaurant. His eyes went dark and his mouth went straight. Jessie noticed. Before she had the chance to ask or even look around, Rafe butted in.

"We have to go." Rafe said immediately standing up to grab his daughter. However, it was too late.

"Country cluuuub! Man, you back from the dead, aint ya? Where ya been?!" Barry, his drug dealer, well, ex drug dealer, came up to the table. In that moment Rafe made a mental note to make sure Charley was always sitting on his side with him from now on. Before Rafe could even spit out a vile answer, Barry realized who Rafe was with. As he looked over at Jessie his eyes became wide and his jaw dropped.

"Woah! Speaking of coming back from the dead?! How you been, darling? Man, haven't seen you since you were stealing your dad's coke."

"That's enough, Barry." Rafe insisted with a deadly scowl. Barry, of course, didn't listen. In fact, Barry didn't even glance Rafe's way after that remark. Instead he kept his eyes on Jessie.

Jessie didn't waver. It was as if something kicked in when she least expected it.

"I've been doing just fine, Barry." Jessie replied with a totally uninterested smile, clearly for show and a little sarcasm. Her and Barry went way back, further than Rafe and Barry did by a long shot.

"Who's this?!" Barry asked as if his face couldn't show more surprise, it certainly did. "Did you run off with some other man? Is that why you left all those years ago?! Man, I really started to miss you pickin up your dad's weed, I hated dealin with that son of a bitch."

"Barry, seriously cut it out." Rafe demanded, his face and voice growing more intense. That finally caught Barry's attention, and he decided to glance over at Rafe.

"What the hell you defending her for, Rafe? You remember how much you hated the bitch once she left, huh? She got you pussy whipped again?" Barry spat, with his hands becoming comfortable on the high top in front of him.

"You're not gonna talk like that in front of my daughter." Rafe said with even more fierceness as he got up out of his seat to tower over Barry. "And I never said that I hated Jessie." Rafe insisted.

"Daughter?!" Barry said a little too loudly for their liking, followed by uncontrollable laughter. "Wow, man! Your girl comes back from the dead to tell you you got a daughter and now all of a sudden you're mister clean cut business man? I'm not believin this!"

That was enough to set Rafe over the edge. He quickly grabbed Barry by his shirt, his fists becoming white and his jaw becoming clenched.

"Jessie, take her outside."

Barry didn't dare say a word, as big and bad as he thought he was, he didn't think it was smart to play in this moment. He knew what Rafe was capable of.

Jessie didn't protest either, immediately scooping up the toddler and going out to the dock to look at the water.

"Daddy!" Charley whined, wondering where they were going without her new best friend. Rafe pretended not to hear her cry. Jessie simply shushed her and walked speedily out to the dock to try and explain to Charley that they were just going for a walk.

"I don't fight around my daughter. But my daughter's not here anymore. So you got something else you wanna say to me?" Rafe threatened, breathing heavily with rage spilling over.

"Man why you playin house? You think you're better than me now? That bitch is using you and you know it. You better get a paternity test. She was worse than you ever were back then and you know it. She's always been cold-"

Rafe shut Barry up with a swift punch to the mouth, causing a cut on his lip. Barry attempted to fight back as he winded up a right hook but Rafe saw it coming from a mile away and dodged it, quickly coming behind Barry to put his other arm behind his back and slam him on the table in front of him.

"You don't talk about my wife like that." Rafe seethed just loud enough for only Barry to hear him. "I'm not your little bitch anymore. I don't need you. Understand?" Rafe let Barry back up off the table and quickly turned him around to face him.

"What do you mean? You not using anymore?" Barry asked with a sly smile through his bloody lips.

"Do I look coked out to you, bitch? No, I'm stone cold sober." Rafe whispered with a dangerous calmness in his voice and a smile that truly unsettled Barry. "So you're gonna leave me and my family alone. Got it?"

Barry stood there in shock, trying to take in all the information he was just given. Wife? Daughter? Sober? He forgot to respond but Rafe reminded him by bringing his hand to his neck and tightening around it slightly.

"G-g-got it. Got it." Barry choked out and threw his hands in the air.

"Good." Rafe replied as he let off of Barry. "And you ruined my girls' breakfast." He said as he pointed towards the mess behind him. With that, Rafe walked out as he fixed the collar of his shirt. He looked at the hostess.

"Our food's on him." Rafe calmly said as he pointed at Barry, not bothering to slow his stride one bit as he walked out of the restaurant.