summary: As Willow begins settling into life with the Codys, she grows closer to Craig, Deran, Lena, and Jay. While the family slowly finds a place for Julia's daughter, Pope can't stop thinking about the secret Jay revealed. Determined to find answers, he heads to Charming in search of Jax Teller.
It had been almost a week since the funeral.
A week since Willow had arrived at the Cody house.
A week since Pope had found himself looking for a little blonde head every time he walked into a room.
The kid was everywhere.
She was currently running around the backyard with Lena, both girls soaking wet from the pool.
"You can't catch me!" Willow squealed.
Lena immediately took off after her.
"Get back here!"
Their laughter echoed through the yard.
Pope sat at the patio table pretending to read something while secretly keeping an eye on them.
Not that he'd ever admit it.
"You're staring."
Pope looked up.
Craig was grinning.
"I'm not."
"You totally are."
"I'm reading."
Craig looked down at the paper.
"That's upside down."
Pope glared.
Craig laughed so hard he nearly spilled his beer.
Across the yard, Willow suddenly tripped over her own feet.
Pope was halfway out of his chair before she even hit the ground.
The little girl landed with a dramatic gasp.
Then immediately sat up.
"I'm okay!"
Craig burst out laughing.
"You moved faster than Smurf when somebody mentions money."
"Shut up."
"You like the kid."
"No."
"You do."
"No."
"You totally do."
Pope threw a towel at his head.
"Craig."
"I'm just saying."
Before Pope could answer, Willow came running over.
"Uncle Andy!"
His attention immediately shifted.
"What?"
"Craig said he can teach me how to jump into the pool."
Craig nearly choked.
"I did?"
"You did now."
Willow grabbed Craig's hand.
"Come on!"
Craig looked at Pope.
Pope shrugged.
"Good luck."
Twenty minutes later, Craig was teaching Willow how to do cannonballs.
Or at least his version of teaching.
"Jump!"
Willow looked nervous.
"What if I sink?"
"You won't sink."
"How do you know?"
Craig pointed at himself.
"Look at me."
She squinted.
"Okay."
"Do I look smart?"
She immediately shook her head no.
Pope snorted into his coffee.
Craig looked offended.
"Wow."
"But you look fun."
"See?" Craig said proudly.
"That wasn't a compliment."
"It counts."
Eventually Willow jumped.
The splash was tiny.
But her smile was huge.
"I DID IT!"
Craig threw both arms into the air.
"THAT'S MY NIECE!"
The entire backyard laughed.
Later that afternoon Deran found himself stuck supervising both girls while everyone else disappeared.
A responsibility he absolutely did not ask for.
Willow sat beside him on the deck.
"Uncle Deran?"
"What?"
"Why do you always look grumpy?"
Deran nearly choked on his drink.
"I don't."
"You do."
"No I don't."
"You do."
"No."
"Okay."
He frowned.
"You're agreeing too easily."
Willow smiled.
"Mommy said people get more grumpy when they're wrong."
From the pool, Craig started laughing.
Deran threw a pool noodle at his head.
That evening Jay found Willow sitting on the edge of the pool.
The sun was setting.
Orange light reflected across the water.
She held Piggy Bear against her chest.
Jay sat beside her.
"You okay?"
She nodded.
"You miss Mom?"
Her eyes immediately filled with tears.
"A little."
Jay wrapped an arm around her shoulders.
"I miss her too."
For a while they sat quietly.
Watching the boats.
Watching the waves.
Neither noticed Pope standing on the porch watching them.
Or the fact that he looked just as sad.
That night everyone was asleep.
Except Pope.
He stood in the kitchen staring at the computer.
One address.
One name.
Jax Teller.
Pope wrote down the address and folded the paper and shoved it into his pocket.
Then grabbed his keys.
If Jax Teller was really Willow's father...
He deserved to know.
The drive to Charming took hours.
The closer Pope got, the more uncertain he became.
What exactly was he supposed to say?
Hey.
You have a daughter.
She's six.
Her mom died.
Good luck.
Even for him that sounded terrible.
The clubhouse appeared just after sunrise.
Rows of motorcycles sat outside.
Pope parked.
Got out.
And headed toward the entrance.
A few bikers immediately looked his way.
One of them stepped forward.
Tall.
Dark hair.
Scottish accent.
"Can I help ye?"
Pope stared at him.
"I'm looking for Jax Teller."
The biker frowned.
"Who wants him?"
"Pope Cody."
The biker's eyebrows shot up.
"Cody?"
Another voice spoke from behind him.
"What the hell is a Cody doing in Charming?"
Pope turned.
And found himself face-to-face with Jax Teller.
The man looked older than the photos Jay had shown him.
But it was definitely him.
Pope studied him for a second.
Then spoke.
"I need to talk to you about Julia."
Jax froze.
And suddenly the atmosphere changed.
"Come inside."
Pope followed him.
Already knowing neither of their lives would be the same when this conversation ended.
Willing and Able: Animal Kingdom’s Pope - The Sacrificial Son.
960ish words.
21st June 2026.
WARNINGS
In this essay, there will be mentions of violence, murder, manipulation, and religious imagery.
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“Am I my brother’s keeper?” Cain says to God, heels digging into the ground as his final attempt of control.
“Now you are under a curse and driven from the ground, which opened its mouth to receive your brother’s blood from your hand,” God replies, a vengeance strong in his hand.
This tale as old as time (literally) argues the notion of jealousy as sin. That Cain killed Abel because he was solely jealous. But I think it’s about more than jealousy.
Responsibility. Noun. Something that is your job or duty to deal with.
Cain was jealous of Abel, that is undeniable. An older brother can act as a fatherly figure, one who has power and authority. Cain is responsible for Abel, despite Abel being an individual. It is Cain’s responsibility as the eldest brother to provide for his family. So when Abel is looked upon fondly by God, Cain would feel like he has failed at his role. Once he murders his brother, it is his responsibility to live with his actions. He has to reap the consequences, and it becomes his responsibility to never let himself become that version of himself again.
Andrew ‘Pope’ Cody is the second eldest of the crime family. He has two younger brothers and a nephew under his wing, all three of which are immature in their own ways. He is responsible for his family due to his undying loyalty. He is caught in a range of horrific acts of violence, stringing from murder to armed robbery - all in the name of family, responsibility, and a little bit of ego. But when does it become damaging to be responsible for so many people? When do we stop being responsible for others? When does this make us a sacrifice?
DISCLAIMER: I haven’t actually finished this show, I’ve only just finished Season 2. So take everything I say with a grain of salt, because there may be an update once I finish the show.
Pope will do anything for his family. This is a well-known fact amongst his brothers, his associates, and even the police. But the one person who knows how far that loyalty will go is his mother, Janine ‘Smurf’ Cody. Smurf manipulates Pope beyond belief. She has groomed and coerced him all his life, digging her claws into his mind from a young and impressionable age. Smurf was threatened by Catherine, Baz’s wife. Catherine grew up with the Cody’s, with a young Pope easily falling in love with her. Smurf knew the feelings Pope has for Catherine, and she uses this against him. She manipulates him, saying Catherine was a CI and was a danger to the family. The family he has been raised to be responsible for. To protect, no matter the cost. He kills Catherine to protect his family. He soon finds out that he killed her for no reason. That the danger was fabricated by Smurf in order to remove a distraction from her business. As the eldest brother, he is responsible for protecting his family - and his responsibility leads him down a path of regret and despair. Smurf was willing to sacrifice his mind and sanity for her own personal gain.
Craig and Deran are Pope’s younger brothers. They are his responsibility to keep safe and out of trouble. Despite the brotherly figure looming overhead as the boss of the business, Pope is still the one that is called to muscle his way out of problems. He is the no-nonsense brother. He gets shit done. He even cleans up after them, doing the dishes and cleaning out their apartments when he visits. Even with J, he checks in because his family is his responsibility. Due to this responsibility, Pope did time in prison. He took the hit for a job gone wrong due to the sloppiness of his brothers - because that is what he is supposed to do. He knew that it had to be him, not one of his little brothers. His unwavering loyalty to his brothers, and the deep responsibility he feels for them puts him in positions that make his life harder - but he does it despite this. His sacrifice is not thanked, however. He is his brother’s handlers, and they will never be grateful for that - or will never tell him.
Motherless. Basically fatherless. Left with her unstable uncles to raise her, Lena is the responsibility Pope never realised would be his. He sacrifices everything for Lena, he puts himself on the line because he feels unwavering guilt for the murder of her mother. Pope wants a life for Lena away from the violence, but his attempts only push her further into its grasp. His responsibility to his family ruins every chance he has to give Lena a life she deserves. He is responsible for her as a punishment for his actions, a forever blinding reminder that makes him fall deeper into the depression he doesn’t like to show.
Cain killed Abel. Cain suffered the wrath of God. Pope killed Catherine. Pope suffered the wrath of guilt. Pope loses Amy because of his past, his responsibilities to his family ruining every prospect of his future. Despite his failing mental health, his family still sacrifice him. When does he become responsible for himself? When does he choose himself over his family, to stop being the sacrificial son? Cain and Pope are not dissimilar. They blame themselves for their actions and do no purposeful action to move from it as changed people. Pope’s responsibility makes him willing and able to do anything for his family. Cain’s responsibility morphs into jealousy. Both are the sacrificial son. One to Smurf, the other to God. The question is, when do we stop being responsible? Do we ever stop being responsible for our actions?
Billy purposely embarrassing him by calling out CLASSIC SIGNS AND EXAMPLES OF CHILD ABUSE. He throws Billy out. Then we have “I’ve been thinking about Baz. Feels like we’re forgetting him.” And he knows, he knows it was Smurf.
God his voice is so rough. I really love Pope on a job. It’s the most Daddy he ever is. So efficient and authoritative. So competent at man things. The way he gets proud and excited after. I’m having a wide range of pope feelings.
The devastated look on Pope’s face when Smurf is home. The way Craig and J fall into line. How creepy she is touching and kissing them. Smurf asking about Lena. Pope’s soft voice when he talks about Lena. Craig and Deran whispering on the phone and how scared Deran is of her. Because his abuser is free and he knows that in her eyes he should have visited. So the little boy in him knows he Fucked Up. The tension at the dinner table. The fact that they all sit there even though none of them want to. The staring between Pope and Smurf.
