Everyone stared at Elle after she said this confession, she eventually rolled her eyes and proceeded to greet Piney with a kiss on the cheek. She was going to start a conversation with him before Clay interrupted, "what do you mean he's your father?!" Clay stared harder at my ex-wife, "that isn't possible, Dice never had any kids."

Elle smiled, "well, I could tell you that isn't true from firsthand experience. He doesn't share anything about his private life with anyone, I just learned to do the same."

"Well, why didn't you say anything?" Clay pressed further.

"Why was that anyone's business? I got married drunk in Vegas, married to a biker I didn't even know. A husband who didn't tell me the truth about his own business, so why would I say anything?"

"When did you become the Secret Queen?" Gemma snorted.

"Oh, Gem, don't be so cynical. I learned it all from you," Elle said in a tone so sickeningly sweet.

Gemma glared at her once more and seemed like she wanted another attempt at throwing a chair at her. Before we knew it the kids had come back from their nature walk with Elle's daughter crying in Ellie's arms. Ellie tried to console her, but it was obvious that something had spooked her. Ellie handed the child over to Elle defeated, "she saw a squirrel and lost her head."

Elle nodded her head in understanding, rubbing the little girl's back who's cries had turned into soft hiccups. "Ava, it's okay baby, it's just squirrel," Elle cooed. Ava ignored her mom and buried herself deeper into her bosom. I stared at them with a bit more caution now, my mom was right, that little girl did resemble me. She was the perfect combination of Noelle and me, and a part of me was angry with Elle for keeping her from me. Although Noelle was right, even if I had known about Ava, I doubt she would have known me well considering how absent I had been with Abel.

"Ava, do you want to go with Ellie, I have to go set up some tables with Auntie Mila," Ava shook her head softly and let out a yawn. I guess the excitement from screaming her head off made her tired. Elle sighed and shifted Ava to her hip, it pained me that she didn't trust any of us to hold her for a second, while she went to fix tables.

And almost as if she heard my thoughts she turned around to meet my gaze. I didn't think I was getting choked up until she became blurry in my eyes. She cocked her head at me and her tough demeanor from earlier had faded. She loosened her grip on Ava and brought the child's attention to her. "Ava, can you go with Mr. Jax?" Ava brought her attention to me and looked back at her mom, "it's okay, he's very nice."

Once she got the confirmation from Ava, she walked towards me and Ava reached for me. She was so small in my arms, she smelled like baby powder and shea butter. I held her softly just so that she wouldn't feel constrained, but when she voluntarily held on to me for dear life, I just about melted.

Elle looked at us and shifted uncomfortably before breaking away with Mila. I could tell she was uncomfortable with everything around her. From being back in Charming, with seeing everyone, and seeing me. But she did her darndest not to looked phased by the whole thing. I could see Mila rub her shoulder and Elle gave off a pathetic smile, she looked physically pained.

I sat down with Ava and allowed her to relax further in my arms before she eventually dozed off. My mom came over to me and rubbed her thumb over her little face, "what are you going to do about her?" she motioned over to Noelle who was talking to Chibs and Happy in the distance. I stared at Elle for a minute, she was laughing at something that Happy had said and her laugh had spread like wildfire. A smile spread on her face and she threw her head back as her laughter danced through her whole body.

I shook my head as my mind went blank, "I don't know Ma, it's complicated."

"Complicated? Jax, she hid a baby from you!"

"Shh, keep your voice down," I stroked Ava's hair as she took a deep breath in her sleep. "Look Ma, I know, but it's just complicated. You saw how things went down with Wendy; how unsupportive I was."

"Hey, all that is ancient history, you have a family now. Betrayal isn't complicated when it comes to family Jax. Let no one keep you from what's rightfully yours," her words dripped with venom as she stared at Elle. Elle paid her no mind as she enjoyed the company of others, she looked at me holding Ava and excused herself from the group.

She returned with a blanket in hand and placed it over Ava's body without a word. I grabbed her hand before she could escape and we held an intense gaze. In her eyes, there was a mix of sadness, anger, and maybe a bit of shame. She broke contact with me when I saw her eyes start to blur, after all these years we were still so intense.

My mom stared hard at me as I watched my ex walk back to her friend. Her curvaceous body swayed and I couldn't help that my eyes traveled to all the parts of her body I used to squeeze and caress.

My mom scoffed, "careful Teller, I've seen wandering eyes before."