May We Meet Again

It felt like their life was ending, but it was only just beginning.

She wrapped her slender arms around his muscular frame, holding him close like he was the last lifeline to her old life, and she just was not ready to let go. "Last call for International Flight 461 to Paris," the attendants voice broke through the haze, letting Stephanie know the time to let go had finally arrived. "Axel..." she whispered his name and felt the same tremor of desire race through her veins, and up his spine as he tightened his hold on her.

"Please," That one word was so full of emotion and longing it almost succeeded in changing Stephanie’s mind, but she stiffened her resolve, and moved to disentangle herself from his hold. Before she could push him away, he backed up, "I am begging you Steph, don't leave me. I need you. Don't go." Axel's eyes were red, and tear stained, it was hard to look him in the face, knowing they both were at fault here. She had dreams and desires that did not involve staying in her hometown, and he just did not want to leave. At least that was the only answer he gave her when she asked him to go with her, but no, he was hellbent on staying there in that small town.

         Stephanie reached up on her toes and planted a chaste kiss on his broad cheek, “I have to go Axel,” she turned away from him, her heart breaking with each step she took. Her mind screaming at her to stop and stay, then switching gears, saying no, its time to go. She reached her gate and she could not help it, turning one last time she, she needed to see his face, something to carry with her as she fulfilled her dreams. Axel, he stood there strong and intimidating, but se could see the trails the tears left on his cheeks, the slight folding of his shoulders, but worst of all, she could see his heart breaking as she walked away from him. “Goodbye Axel, I hope that one day we may meet again, but until then I will always love you,” Her whispered words would only ever be heard by her.

         Axel watched the love of his life walk away from him, and he felt helpless. He understood she had dreams, and he never wanted to hold her back, but watching as she boarded her plane for takeoff was the hardest thing he had ever done. All he wanted was to rewind time, back to when they had all the time in the world to think about the future, maybe then he would have made different choices, more than likely not though. As Stephanie’s plane taxied done the runway, Axel looked on from a nearby window, “I hope that you live your life to the fullest, and that one day we meet again. Until then, Goodbye Stephanie.” He wiped his eyes and exited the airport. He would see her again, but until that day arrived, Axel could not stand around waiting. He had things to do.

*6 Months Later*

Axel walked into the bar, he was supposed to be meeting Izzy, his club brother, but as usual he was late. He signaled Tanya the bartender, and she slid him a cool Bud light. He sipped his drink as his eyes scanned the hangout the MC used. There were a few brothers milling about, but he was on a mission and did not feel like talking to anyone, but their resident tech geek Izzy. As if his thoughts summoned him the, lanky bastard walked through the door. He looked grizzly, like he had not slept, that is nothing new for him though, Izzy rarely slept keeping himself up off caffeine and sugar. “Izzy, you’re late,” Axels growl left no room for a rebuttal as he turned and headed into their ‘laboratory.’

         It was a collection of computer screens and other techy stuff the club had bought. Izzy sat at his desk, his fingers flying over the keyboards, “So, I found her, but she is trying ridiculously hard not to be found. She is holed up in a hotel room but that may change. Can I ask you a question?”

         Izzy did not need to ask, Axel already knew what he wanted to know, but he nodded his acceptance anyway. “You’ve been growling at me for months to keep this girl you put a tracker on in our sights. All I really want to know is why? What does she mean to you Axe? The truth this time.”

Axel shook his head, not wanting to answer but knowing he had too. There was more to the story and he had to keep everyone on the playing field safe. “You know as your VP I don’t have to answer, but I guess it’s time to tell the whole story. Her name is Caroline and a few months ago she dropped something off on my doorstep. By the time I caught up too her she was two states over. I got her to talk to me, but she wasn’t interested in coming back to deal with her mess, so I put the bug on her just to make sure she’s safe.” Izzy looked dumbfounded, “What the hell did she leave on your doorstep, and why are we just now hearing about it?”

         Axel turned away, he had not told a single soul about this, “My son.” Izzy actually fell out of his chair, “I’m sorry, did you just say your ‘son’! When the... how the... Ok tell me everything!” Izzy’s freak-out was to be expected, the poor guy was as high strung as they came, “Calm down you moron, he’s not my biological son, he’s Devon’s, Caroline came into town over a year ago. She started hooking up with D at once, he got her pregnant then blew out of town. She had the baby and for a while, things were good from what she told me. Then D came back, I think he got mixed up in something dangerous, but whatever it was he led it to her doorstep. Bryan was only a month old when she brought him to me. She left the adoption papers in his bag and I filed them at once. He may be my brothers’ kid, but I would do anything for him.”

         Izzy was silent for so long, Axel thought he might have fallen asleep, “Is that why you stopped partying so much? Does Cooper know any of what you just told me?” Axel just shook his head, “I was getting ready to talk to him, Bryan’s babysitter is getting ready to leave for college so I might have to step down for a while. At least until I can find another one.” They nodded at each other and Axel turned to leave, “You know you could bring him around here, anyone of our brothers would die to protect him.”

         He stood by the door, “I know that. I just liked having him to myself for a while, being a dad, it is a lot different from being a brother. He is innocent. Sometimes I feel like I don’t deserve him.” Izzy stepped up to Axel’s side and gave him a brotherly hug, “That’s the most profound I have ever heard you be. You need anything, I am there.” He nodded to his brother and walked out of the laboratory.

         Cooper was sitting at the bar, laughing with some of the other members of the Club. “Hey Coop, can I speak to you for a minute?” He leaned back on the barstool, “Yeah, what’s up?” Axel walked toward the chapel, “Not here man,” By his tone of voice Cooper knew Axel needed to speak about something important. He did not mess around when it came to the people Axel cared about and how he needed to keep them safe. It was one of the reasons Cooper sponsored Axel into the Blue Angels and helped him earn his way to becoming his VP. Cooper trusted Axel with his life, because he knew Axel would do everything in his power to make sure they all came home. “What’s up brother?” Axel had closed the door behind them, solidifying Coopers earlier sentiment that Axel needed to speak in Private. “Look, man I hate to be coming to you with this, but I need to take a break from the club. I got some personal stuff I need to deal with now. I’ll be back once its all handled though.” Cooper sat in his chair, just staring at his VP. “Are you ever going to tell me about my nephew man?” The look of absolute shock that rode hard on Axel’s features would have been comical if Cooper were not hurt by Axels actions. Naturally, feelings did not mix well with MC’s but by Axel not coming to tell Cooper what was going on he began to feel like his brother did not trust him.

         “How did you know?” Axel stammered over that sentence, “How did you find out?” Cooper sat up straight, “Why didn’t you tell me? Did you not trust me?” Axel looked defeated, “Its nothing like that Coop, I didn’t tell anyone, I am still getting used to being Bryan’s dad, I didn’t know how to balance both the MC and becoming a parent, so I thought to keep them separate. Hell, my mom doesn’t even know I have him.” With his shoulders slumped Axel unloaded the whole story, he told Cooper everything, including how much trouble he that Caroline and Devon are in. “Welcome back Axel,” Cooper sat back smiling at the man he used to know and had missed so much, “I haven’t seen you like this since Stephanie.” Axel growled, but let it go, “You still haven’t told me how you found out,” Cooper laughed. “You think I didn’t notice when you stopped hanging around here at night, when you stopped drinking so much, or when you stopped cussing and being violent every chance you got. I was starting to get worried so one night I called you, and when you didn’t pick up the phone I rode to your house, I saw you cradling the little guy in the living room. You were smiling and he was laughing, and I had never seen a greater sight. I am so proud of you Axe, you are a great father, and an even better friend. But I have some bad news, you can’t take a break from the club, we need you, and when I tell you the other bad news I know you’re going to need us.”

         “What bad news?” Cooper looked down at the table, “She’s back, has been for a month now,” Axel didn’t need clarification, “You’re just telling me this now, with everything I am going through. You thought now would be a good time?” Cooper sighed, “Of course not, I told her to tell you when she showed up on my doorstep.” Axel stood, “Great, look man she’s been doing a bang-up job staying away so lets just keep it like that. I mean it Coop, keep your sister away from me. Now, if you do not mind, I am going home to get my son.”

         Axel stood and stomped out the door, his mind was reeling, Stephanie was back in town and no one thought to tell him. His emotions were all over the place, he still loved her, but if she did not want to see him, he was not going to chase her around like some lost puppy. He was so lost in his thoughts that he barreled through the outer door, running some poor girl over. Nope, of course it could not be just any poor girl, no he had run Stephanie over. He reached down and pulled her to her feet, holding on to her arm to keep her steady, “Hey Axel,” she spoke softly yet her voice still hit him like a ton of bricks. “How have you been,” His emotions where still bouncing around, but one thing he was also good at was staying calm under pressure. That is except when she was around, so instead he channeled anger, “Fine,” he bit the word out and moved around her, he couldn’t stay there as long as she was looking at him like that.

         Stephanie reached out for his arm as he walked by, “Where are you going? I thought maybe we could catch up, I’m in town for a while.” He laughed, “Is that so? Tell me, did you want to catch up a month ago, or has Cooper riding your case finally made you agree?” His anger laced every word. Her eyes widened at being caught, “I am sorry, I just needed some time to figure my head out. Of course, I wanted to see you. I just wasn’t ready.” He shook his head and gently pushed her off his arm, “You and your brother can go to hell for the foreseeable future, I have better places to be.” Stephanie watched as Axel walked away from her, for the first time understanding how he felt when she had done the same to him. No matter how much he had changed she still loved him, and she was going to get him back this time for good.

         A plan began to form, but she was going to need her brothers help.

         Days flew by, and Axel had yet to replace Bryans babysitter, it was frustrating him, but he did enjoy spending so much time with his little man. Right now, he was down for a nap, and Axel just stared at his sleeping face he looked so peaceful during sleep. His phone blared through the silence, and he hurriedly reached for it before it woke the sleeping baby, he would be hell to put back to sleep. He silently walked out of the room closing the door as he answered the call, “Hey, this is Axel,” Coopers voice sounded on the other end, “Hey man I need you to get down here, there’s something major going on and we need all hands on deck.”

         “I can’t man I don’t have a babysitter.” Cooper cut him off, “Just bring him, the club spent the last few days cleaning and baby proofing this place. I promise its kid friendly. One of the girls can watch him while we chat.” Axel made a sound of indignation, “Man those girls aren’t touching him, I know where they have been and that ain't getting on my son, hell no!” Cooper just laughed, “Okay man, Tanners ‘Ol Lady is here, is she safe enough to watch your boy?” Axel thought about it for a minute, “Yeah, I’ll be there in 10,” he hung up and grabbed everything he needed, then he packed Bryan into his pickup and, drove toward the clubhouse.

         Pulling up everything was quiet, no one was milling around the parking lot and it looked like the garage next door was closed for the day. This must be serious cause Cooper never closed the garage before quitting time. Grabbing Bryan and his things, they made their way inside quietly, he still did not want to wake the baby. It was almost pitch-black inside, a faint glow coming from inside the chapel. No one seemed to be around, no club girls sprawled out, Tanya was not even behind the bar, “What the hell?” He whispered.

         He set the baby bag down and unbuckled Bryan from his car seat, he could hand him off to Sam when he found her. Just as he was pulling Bryan into his arms, Cooper stepped out of the chapel, wearing a tux. It was so unexpected Axel laughed, “What the hell are you wearing and why?” Cooper spread his arms out and looked down at himself, “Does it look bad, because yours is the exact same.”

         “What are you talking about, I am not wearing a monkey suit.” Cooper walked forward and stretched his hands out to take Bryan. “You’re not yet, its hanging in your old apartment, I’ll tell you everything later, just go put it on and meet me back here.” Axel shook his head and made his way upstairs, by the time he had changed it seemed that Cooper had changed Bryan, he was also wearing a monkey suit, his was just baby sized. His son looks good, he would be a problem when he grew older.

         Grabbing Bryan and bringing him back to his chest, he waited patiently for Cooper to explain. “Look. I need you to hear me to the end, and whatever you do, please for the love of God do not hit me. Stephanie is waiting in the chapel, along with all our brothers, and their women. I am going to go get her, please just listen before you react. Now give me my nephew, he doesn’t need to see this.”

         Axel handed him over and Cooper disappeared back into the chapel, Stephanie was in the doorway seconds later. She stood tall and beautiful, and Axel felt himself stop breathing, “Steph?” he asked. “Why are you wearing that?” She did a little spin for him, “For the same reason you are wearing that.” Stepping into his body, she gathered him into her arms, “Axel, I screwed up all those months ago. I never should have left you. I love you and it took being away for so long to finally open my eyes to my greatest dream of all. It is you. I want to be with you and have a family, although you got a head start on that part. But right now, are friends and family are waiting. Will you marry me?” Incredibly happy, he couldn’t speak so he nodded yes.

         Together they made a happy life, after all their goodbye just made for a sweeter hello.