A/N - Breakfast is always fun, especially when introducing families that don't know each other exist...! Just a note to thank you all so much for following me over, this one's a little cuddlier (at least to start, but you know what I'm like!) right now so I hope you enjoy the good times while they're rolling... ;)

Sara x


Nina winked one eye open to find Chibs had his arms and legs wrapped firmly around her. For a brief second, she panicked, the man in the bed had been a stranger for so long that she filled with fear but as soon as she heard Natasha's happy laughter as she bounced about on the floor beside them, she felt herself relax. She craned her neck to check on her, only to have Chibs paw her and pull her tight to him, burying his head in her hair and murmuring contently. Nina blushed and closed her eyes, trying to remember how it felt when it was like this. When it was good, when they were happy. When they had accidentally made the little girl playing beside them.

She could hear Natasha talking to the toys she played with. Nina smiled to herself as her light little Irish tone murmured, "And today we can meet Emily, and we can have breakfast, and maybe we can go to the playground." She peeked over to see Natasha conferring with a pair of dolls she had insisted on bringing with her, little raggedy-Ann type things she had fallen in love with in an old toyshop in Belfast. Nina felt her chest grow warm, Natasha was so excited to see Emily. She could only wish that Emily would feel the same.

Of course she was scared. The idea of sitting down opposite the girl who had rejected her so hatefully and angrily in that airport was overwhelming, Nina was sure that Emily would never forgive her for what she had done. Every day she had assured herself that, one day, they'd be able to talk it through and it would all be fine. Emily had always been a smart girl, not like dippy little Natasha, a girl so in love with the world that she needed a constant hand holding on to her. Emily would understand, eventually.

Chibs drew his hips to hers as his leg moved down behind hers, their bodies suddenly unspeakably tight. Nina smiled a little as he started to nibble along her neck in his sleep, it felt good to be held like that. It had been too long, she had been lonely for too long. Galen had tried on a couple of occasions, but she had always shut him down with excuses about work and pleasure which he had taken in good grace. But being here, with Chibs, with her Filip, it felt like a dream come true as he snuggled close to her. She nuzzled his nose with her own and sighed.

"We should get up," she murmured, kissing his forehead gently. He grunted, half-asleep, and rolled her beneath him.

"No, no, stay here," he insisted softly. Both of his arms held her tightly now and Nina laughed as she gave him a gentle push. They were both still fully dressed from the night before, his cut was still on his back and crushed against her heavily.

"We have to go for breakfast," she reminded him, caressing his shoulder with her palm. "Come on, I don't want to let her down."

Natasha suddenly bobbed up at the edge of the bed, tugging on Chibs. "Are we going to meet Emily?" Nina smiled.

"You'll have to wake your Da up first."

The little girl leapt up on him boisterously, squashing him in her enthusiasm to get him up. Her knee crushed down into his back and Chibs squawked loudly, cursing into the pillow as Nina slipped out from beneath him and righted herself with a giggle. Natasha bounced on him, ploughing the back of his head with kisses. "Come on, Da, we can't be late!" she insisted. "She'll be upset if we're late!"

Chibs groaned as he grabbed her and pulled her down into a hug. Natasha squealed with joy as he cuddled her to him and rolled onto his back, blinking to try and wake himself up. He admired Nina as she changed her clothes, watching with a strange sense of satisfaction. Natasha put her hand over his eyes.

"You can't watch Ma changing! That's naughty!" she insisted. Chibs laughed as he pulled her fingers out of his way.

"Aye, I can, ask her, she doesn't mind." He watched her as she pulled her shirt off. The reaper scar on her back grinned at him, he'd almost forgotten it was there but seeing it again was a stark reminder of her history with the club. She was one of them alright. "You don't mind, do you Ma?"

"Depends," she murmured, looking through the drawers and pulling out a smart, fitted black shirt. "Do I get to watch you?"

"Ma!"

Natasha looked enormously embarrassed and hid her head beneath a pillow. Nina crossed to tickle her and motioned to the other room. "Go, change, let's go, let's go!" Natasha hurtled off in the other direction, leaning heavily on Chibs' crotch as she went. He groaned, he hadn't missed that pain for sure. He sat up and rubbed his eyes, throwing off his cut in an instant, too hot. Nina handed him a shirt, an old flannel one of his that she had clearly kept. It was worn now through years of use, but Chibs didn't mind. He tugged off his shirt and pulled this one on instead.

"She's beginning to understand these things," he observed. She nodded.

"Yeah, she's not quite as quick as Emily though," she teased, tapping his temple gentle. "Must be genes from the father."

"Cheeky little mare," he growled, sweeping her up in his arms and throwing her back down on the bed, straddling her. Nina laughed loudly, inelegantly, and Chibs beamed to see her suddenly so herself, unkempt and wild and happy. "You better be buying breakfast. Expenses and all."

The small, unexpected family dressed and piled into one of the cars waiting out the front of the house. Nina stared nervously out of the window as the town rolled past them quickly. Chibs leaned across, winding his fingers in with hers to support her. Natasha eyed them with a smile, kicking her feet happily as they made their way into the centre of Charming. They pulled up outside their usual haunt, a diner just near Main, and Chibs nodded towards Tig's car. Happy was leaning against it, smoking a cigarette, and watched in silence as Chibs helped Natasha out of the car and took her hand as they crossed the parking lot. Nina offered him a wave and he nodded to acknowledge her.

"This is going to be weird," she whispered as she jogged to catch up with Chibs. He put his arm around her shoulders and kissed her head.

"You'll be fine, love."

Tig was already sitting in the booth with Emily as she did her homework. She was in her little school uniform, a little grey pleated skirt and a white shirt. Her socks were up to her knees and her dark hair flowing wildly around her face. Nina could feel her knees giving out as they walked over, she was already sure she couldn't do this but Chibs edged her forward. He held Natasha back for a moment as Nina moved awkwardly towards them. Tig looked up and grinned the widest smile she had seen in a long time.

"Hey baby." He stood up and wrapped his arms around her, hugging her for as long as he could without it being awkward. As Nina let go of him, her eyes diverted to Emily. Her Emily, her beautiful Emily, suddenly such a big girl. Emily stared at her and rolled her tongue against her teeth before looking at Tig.

"Why is she here?"

Tig gave her a poke and yanked her up to stand on the booth bench. "She's your Mom, honey, stand up, say hello." Emily glared, her little hands balling into fists as she looked at her. Nina wanted to cry, there was that same distance between them she had left with.

"Hi, Emily," she ventured, reaching her hand out for her. She moved to stroke Emily's cheek but Emily shrieked and pulled away, slapping her hard.

"No. You don't touch me." She glowered at Tig in a rage. "I want to go home."

"We're having breakfast," Tig said firmly, his tone one that Emily knew better than to argue with. "So sit down and be nice." Emily sulked as she plonked herself down on the bench and Nina sat awkwardly on the seat at the end, unsure whether to even try to sit any closer to her. Tig forced a smile as he caressed Nina's cheek in his hand adoringly. "It's okay, baby, it's just going to take her some time to get used to you being home. Chibs here?"

Nina moved to wave him over and Chibs came to join them. Natasha looked at the table, fascinated, this place was so different to Belfast. She peered at Emily with wonder and her lips curled into a beaming, toothy smile. Emily scowled as she looked over the menu, and Tig's gaze suddenly grew uncomfortable as he looked from Chibs to Natasha and then back again. He glanced at Nina.

"Who's this?"

Natasha boldly stepped up to him and extended her hand like she had seen her mother do a thousand times. "I'm Tash," she chirruped sweetly. She used her left hand to take Nina's and announced, "This is my Ma and…" She looked at Chibs dreamily, like he was some sort of hero. "That's my Da."

Tig had been in the process of sipping beer through a straw in an attempt to look subtle but he spluttered it out across the table as she said it. Emily wailed in annoyance as a few drops splashed on her homework and she whisked it up off the table quickly, grabbing a napkin.

"Jesus, Daddy, what the fuck?"

Nina stared at her, her eyes wide in surprise. "Emmy! Don't say that!"

Chibs winced, he'd forgotten that maybe they'd been a little more lax about language since Nina had been away. He covered Natasha's ears but Natasha giggled and tugged on his sleeve.

"Da, can I say 'fuck'?"

"No you cannot!" Nina snapped, unable to cope with the uncomfortable family dynamic. "Jesus Christ. Tig, you-"

"You had a kid? With him?" Tig was incredulous, unable to get over the second little girl at the table. He had spent the whole morning thoroughly excited by the surprise he had for Emily, he had been sure she would be as happy as he was but she was far from it. Now, seeing this stranger, he stared accusingly at Chibs and jabbed his finger in his face. "You knew about this?"

"Of course I didn't," Chibs muttered, rolling his eyes. "You think I'd have kept this a secret? You think I'd have been in Charming if I knew she was in Belfast?"

Tig crossed his arms. "I don't know. You were in Charming while she was in Belfast!" He pointed at Nina and she felt her face growing hot, embarrassed as she flushed red. This was too much, it was all too much. She looked beseechingly at Emily but she stubbornly turned her head away, turning her nose up at Natasha. Natasha, not realising that she was being snubbed so openly, dug in her bag and handed Emily one of her two dolls.

"I brought this for you," she said with a hopeful smile. "From Ireland. Ma said you'd like it."

As the two Sons squabbled loudly over the table, Emily looked at the gift being held out to her. Natasha's eyes sparkled with excitement, she looked adoringly up at her big sister. After a moment, Emily rummaged through her school bag and pulled out her tired-looking bunny. The little creature was looking its age now, worn and a little threadbare, but she offered it to Natasha in exchange. The two girls smiled at each other and squeezed across to sit closer together. Nina felt her heart skip a beat as Natasha leaned across to play with Emily's hair, pulling at the dark ringlets before tugging at her own straight, light brown hair on her head.

"Ma told me about you," she whispered quietly, in awe of the other girl that was so similar but yet so different. "Every day."

Emily looked over at Nina uncertainly. "Really?" Natasha nodded eagerly.

"She showed me pictures, you with your Da, with my Da." She reached across the table. "Ma, let me show her the pictures."

Tig and Chibs fell silent as Nina passed her phone across and they watched as the two children settled down together to look through the photographs. They huddled close, the bright light on the screen shining on their faces. Nina felt herself visibly relax as they chattered between themselves and leaned back in her seat, her hand in her hair as she waved at a waitress.

"Coffee, please," she insisted, looking exasperatedly between Chibs and Tig. "Then we can order."