You Came Back

M. A. D

Nikita POV

I wake up to a serious pounding in my head, as well as my door.

Uugghhh. What the hell?

The pounding continues as I swing my legs over the bed. "What!" I yell, grabbing my throbbing head. The banging continues.

"I swear on everything I love Niko! I will chop your balls off, blend them and make you drink em like a smoothie!" I yell as I stomp over to the door.

I threw the door back, ready to tear into Niko's ass, but I'm met with my best friend. My mouth drops, taking the sight of Mari in.

Holy s**t

Boy, she's changed. Her once short black hair is now waist length, and her glasses are gone. Her arms are covered in sleeve tattoos. She's no longer scrawny, she's still skinny but she's grown into a woman.

"Well. I guess his balls are safe then. Huh?" She laughs out. I jump up and wrap my arms around her neck, and my legs around her waist. She holds me as if I'm nothing. "I missed you too mami."she whispers. A few tears escape my eyes as she continues to hold me.

God, I missed this woman.

"Damn. Girl on girl? I'm down. Let me get the popcorn." Jax says as he leans against the wall. "f**k off!" Mari and I yell in unison. Jax laughs and continues out the house. Mari drops me and I usher her into mine.

"So. What's new ma?" She asks as she sits on my bed. I open the doors to the balcony and step outside, motioning for her to follow. She joins me and takes a seat on one of the stools. "Nothing really. Still in New York. Still working in the group home. Still living alone. But now I have a cat, Oso." She nods her head.

 "You ever think about moving back?" I nod my head. "Oh yeah. Allot. I missed so much. And I missed seeing everyone." "Everyone?"she asks as she raises her eye brow. I shake my head. "No. Not everyone. Just everyone I thought was here." "So you and Jax haven't spoke?" I shake my head again.

"I can't Mari. You, of all people, know why." She nods her head and stands. She wraps her arms around me. "Yes. But not everything is as it seems. Talk to him. Tell him, again. And don't use a messenger. Who knows if he even knew Nikita. People change." I nod my head. "Clearly. Since when did you get tattoos?" I ask, changing the subject.

She goes on to tell me all about her first tattoo and points to each on she has and tells me the meaning behind them. It makes me smile when I see she has angel wings with his initials and date of birth in between. She said it was her first one. "I want one, just haven't been able to find one I can afford." She giggles and points in the house. "There's someone here who can do them. And I'm pretty sure he'll be cheap."

Who? I know not Niko.

I furrowed my eye brows. And then it hit me. "Are you shitting me?" I half yell. She busts out laughing and points to all her tattoos. "Who do you think did these?" I grown inwardly. "Think he will be professional about it?" I ask as I twiddle my fingers. 

"Maybe. Set up an appointment at the shop he works in. Going there may be better than doing it at home." I nod my head. She pulls out her phone, types something up and hands me the phone. "Here. It's ringing." I take the phone from her and place it to my ear. "Earths Edge?" "Yes. Can I make an appointment to get a tattoo today?" "Sure. Time?" "Uh" I glance over to the clock. "2 will be good." The guy grunts and the line cuts off. "Ass" Mari busts out laughing and pockets her phone.

"Shower and change. Then we'll go." I nod my head and turn, more than eager to get this done.

Two hours later and Mari and I are looking through some tattoo books. "Anything catching your eye? Or do you have something specific?" Mari asks as she tosses the book back into the pile. I shrug my shoulders. "What I really want is a custom piece. Sunflowers and roses, with an old pocket watch with his initials and the time and date he was born." "Where?" "Upper arm." She nods her head.

"Y'all ready?" Jax comes out, then freezes. Mari grins. "Jax! My friend here wants a custom piece." Jax shakes his head. "Figures you'd send her to me." I shoot him the bird. "Fine. Come on. Let's get to the room and you can tell me what it is then. Probably flowers and rainbows."

Jax leads us down a dark hallway with black and red walls. He passes by two doors and pulls back the beaded curtain on the left. Inside the room is different. The walls are painted with intricate designs, like a mandela. Custom tattoos are photoed and placed on the wall with Jax's signature. There's a leather seat in the middle of the room, with a few tables next to it. On one wall there is a drawing station, completed with a light box and all.

Nice. So unlike him though, or at least I think.

Jax motions for me to take a seat as he pulls out a special paper and a pencil. "So. What does princess want?" I roll my eyes and sit in the leather chair. Mari takes a seat on the small black couch in the corner. I go in detail and tell him exactly what I want. "What's this for?" Jaz asks as he begins drawing. "Someone special." Was all I replied. "Obviously."

Fucking jerk. I'd punch you if Mari wasn't here. Asshole.

I remain silent and let him work. After thirty minutes, Jax holds the paper up and hands it to me. "Like this?" He asked. I look at the hand drawn photo in my hand and instantly, tears began to spring into my eyes. The image is black and white. In the center there is an old time pocket watch with the time set to 3:49 with the initials M.A.D etched into it. The pocket watch was intricately designed with so much detail, it took my breath away.

Truly beautiful

Before Jax could see me cry I nodded my head and turned around. "Uh...Nikita....instead of the shoulder, I think it would look better on the thigh or ribs to be honest." Jax said, looking at Mari. I glanced over to Mari who nodded her head. "What you think?"she asked.

It took a whole two seconds before I agreed. I lifted my shirt off and watched as Jax's face began to burn red while his eyes traveled up and down.

Probably thinks I'm ugly. God. I wish these marks would go away.

I don't look bad, but I still try to cover my stretch marks. They're barely visible unlike some women's I've seen. On instinct, I wrap my arms around my torso. "Stop." His eyes jerked back up and he nodded. His Adam's apple bobbed up and down before he motioned for me to lay on my side. I covered my stomach with my shirt and Mari took position holding my hand as I reached upwards. "This will hurt. But I'm not stopping till it's done. Ok? Just let me know if you need a break."

You'll stop if I tell you.

I nodded my head. He put on gloves and the sound of the tattoo gun buzzing drowned everything out.