Disclaimer: I don't own Sons of Anarchy or any of the characters in the show. It's the property of Kurt Sutter, Sutter Ink and FX.
Thank you so much for your amazing support. I know this is really, really sweet and I hope you like it because it won't get any better in this chapter :-)
For more angsty things you can read my new story "Far Gone & Out". Despite not planning to write anymore Happy stories I accidentally did. Still haven't found that 'off'-button in my head.
Chapter 6: Baptism
Grace took the car to Rogue River and her little goddaughter Molly. She was so eager to see her. Megan had sent her pictures and she could almost feel the baby smell just from those. They also talked on-line and Grace had to hold on the chair to not shove her face to the screen in an attempt kiss the little black haired girl.
When drove up on the driveway to Big Al and Linda's house she saw all the bikes, including Skip's and she half ran inside. In the hallway Max came running and she picked him.
"Did the most handsome boy in the world just had a handsome sister?"
"Small!"
"Really? Not big like uncle Skip?" She put him on his hip and walked inside.
"No!" he giggled and gave her a kiss.
When she came into the kitchen Max squirmed and when she put him down he took her hand and dragged her towards Linda who was holding Molly. The kitchen was full of people and her mom was standing next to Linda, looking at the baby.
Linda looked up when she came and smiled. "Look at this perfect little girl!"
Grace leaned over and she just wanted to grab the little girl and hug her to bits. "She's a beauty."
"She's very sad though," Linda said with a serious face.
"Really?" Grace looked at Linda with a smile, she knew where this was going.
"She sure is," Ava agreed.
"And why is that?"
"Being born into a world without a cousin."
Grace sighed and picket up Max again who looked at her. "I want a cousin."
"How much is grandma paying you to say that?"
He looked embarrassed and turned to Linda. That's when Skip came over and gave her a kiss.
"Hey, Beautiful." He turned to Linda. "You promised!"
"I didn't ask. I just said that Molly wants a cousin." She pointed at Ava. "And she was in on it!"
Skip shook his head and took Max. "How about we leave these crazy ladies alone and go and check out your slot cars?" He walked past Linda and kissed her cheek. "My girl's still in college, don't hassle her."
Linda gave him an innocent look and once he was gone she looked at Grace. "Wanna hold your goddaughter?"
"Yes!" Grace reached out and then she held that little bundle in her arms. She smelled so good and Grace held her close. "I'm gonna be the best godmother in the world, Molly."
She carried around on Molly most of the day except when she had to get fed. She played with Max and when both kids were in bed she went down to the kitchen and sat down with Linda.
"Your husband told me to apologize," she said with a smile.
"For what?"
"Pushing you to want kids."
"Don't worry about it. You're no worse than my own mom."
Linda handed her a cup of tea. "How's school?"
"It's good. I like it."
Linda and her had really buried their hatchets around the time of the marriage. Grace suspected that it was part due to her not really caring about what they planned and part that to Linda, that was the proof she'd been waiting for. Proof that Grace was serious about it and that it wasn't all Skip.
She looked at Skip who was sitting outside with Tiny and Big Al.
"How's Tiny taking having a daughter?"
"Think he was doing fine until he had a talk to your dad."
Grace laughed, "Sorry."
"Don't worry about it," Linda waved with her hand. "We've all been like that. He might as well find out."
"I shot him. Skip, I mean." She had no fucking idea where that came from. Linda looked at her. "In the arm. I was trying to get Peter from them and... they didn't take me seriously. That's why I left."
Finally Linda laughed. "Never thought you'd admit that."
"You knew?"
"Al told me, a while before you got married."
"And you're laughing about it?"
"Don't get me wrong," Linda said and pointed at her. "I was pissed, still am, you shot my baby. At the same time... I understand why he forgave you."
"You do? Cause I'm still not sure I do."
"Well, there's that pesky little love thing. He's crazy about you. According to Al, you pretty much knocked him off his bike when he saw you in Charming that first time." Linda smiled at her. "And loyalty, honey. That's what the club is about. If you can't trust the other member to save their ass and keep quiet about shit, the club is nothing. And you showed loyalty to your friend. Fierce loyalty and they respect that."
"Still. I shot him."
"How many times have you said that sentence?" Her eyebrows were raised and she had a teasing smile. Grace still hadn't gotten over how easy she got away with that.
"Many!"
"Stop doing it. We all fuck up now and then. Sometimes big and sometimes just small shit. If you're gonna live with him for the rest of your life without going mad, you need to let most of it go."
Grace looked at Linda and nodded. "Thank you."
Linda leaned over the table and took her hand. "You're making my baby very happy. Very happy and I need you happy to you keep doing that." She shrugged. "And I like you."
"Really?"
"You know I do. And you're growing on me a little more every time I meet you."
Grace knew she did. She also knew that the fact that Skip had stayed in Charming when she was gone had helped. It wasn't just Grace who was keeping him from Rogue River. They also visited as often as possible and Linda loved every visit.
-o0o-
Linda sat in the church bench and watched Grace hold Molly and smiled when she got the full name Molly Grace Linda Owen. That girl would, just like Grace had, grow up among female dragons and she would be just fine. She looked at Skip who as sitting next to her with that stupid smile he always had on his face when he looked at Grace. Especially when she was dressed up the way she was now in a very pretty dress, high heels and make-up.
At the reception afterwards she found him outside and she sat down next to him.
"She told me she shot you."
"She did?" He didn't look surprised though and gave her a little smile.
"Just wanted you to know I knew and I'm not going to shoot her to get back at her."
"Mom!" His eyes were huge. "What the fuck!" Then he laughed.
"How are things? With you and her?"
"Are you really asking or are you just trying to figure out if we're planning for kids?"
"I'm really asking." Cheeky fucking kid! Of course she wanted to know if they were planning for kids!
"They're good. She's really busy with school but they're good." Once again he got that stupid smile on his face. "And no."
"What?" Damn kid!
"We're not planning for kids." He didn't look at her and drank from his bottle of beer.
"Not even talked about it?"
"No."
"Not once?"
"No mom. Not once."
She found that hard to believe. That they'd never talked about it. Especially since it was obvious that Grace loved kids. She needed to make sure. "You don't want kids?"
"Sure. One day but not now." He turned and smiled at her. "You got two, don't get greedy."
"I'm very greedy when it comes to grandkids." She still found it hard to believe. "Not talked at all? She seems to really like kids."
"Mom! No! We haven't and I'm not going to pressure her about it. I'm guessing she wants to finish school first. She's twenty-three, there's no panic."
He was right of course. It was hard to forget sometimes that despite the two of them being together for so long, Grace was still pretty young. And it was also that thing that they were still crazy about each other. That could be the main reason, they wanted to be just the two of them and it wasn't a bad idea. Still, if she would dare to without risking her sons wrath, she'd bet a lot of money on the two of them having their first kid before she was done with her education.
-o0o-
Skip walked out of the bathroom next to their bedroom and stopped to look at Grace. She was half asleep. They'd been back in Charming for two days and she'd been... pensive. Getting in behind her he pulled her closer.
"Skip," she mumbled.
"Mhmm." He hugged her closer and kissed her hair.
"Can I ask you something without you freaking out?"
"Depends." This was unusual. "If you're asking for a divorce I'll freak out."
She laughed and turned around. "No. Kind of like having a big, bad, biker husband. And for the records; my nineteen year old classmates thinks you're 'super hot'."
"Who? That little asian girl?" He laughed when she hit him in the chest. "Did they tell you that?"
"No. Nora overheard them talking about you in the bathroom. She gave them the stink eye."
"I bet. She's good at those." He gave her a kiss. "So what was it you wanted to ask?"
"If I said I'd like to have a baby..." She didn't seem able to finish the sentence.
"If you did..." He realized that he was holding his breath.
"What would you say?"
He took a really close look at her. "I thought you wanted to wait until you finished school." The smile he got in response made him hug her hard. "But you don't?" She shook her head. "You want to start trying now?"
"Yes." She kissed him. "I don't want to wait. Unless you want to."
This was a huge thing and he wanted to be sensible about it but there wasn't much to think about. "No, I don't want to wait."
"So you're with me on this?"
"I'm with you on this." He grabbed her ass. "And I'm up for some trying."
"One condition."
"What would that be?" She was already on her back and he nuzzled her neck and gave her some nibbles.
"This is between you and me, that we're trying, we wont tell anyone until I'm pregnant. It's nobody else's business."
"Agreed."
It was careful sex and even if she'd taken a pill that day, he still thought about it. They were going to try for a baby and he loved the idea of a baby. Loved the idea of him and Grace as parents. And he loved Grace.
He laid awake for long after she fell asleep, holding her and stroking her hair. She'd been his girl since she was eighteen, in some ways since she was seventeen and now she was twenty-three. He could still get stunned when he saw her walking towards him, and it still blew his mind that she was his. His girl, his Old Lady and his wife.
-o0o-
Grace woke up when Skip came home. It had been the friday night party and she didn't want to go since she didn't want to explain why she wasn't drinking. His arm snuck around her waist and he pulled her towards him.
"Hey, Beautiful."
"Hey," she turned around. "I'm late."
"For what?"
"My period, it's late. Just like a few days and it can be a bit sketchy when you've stopped with the pills but even so."
His smile grew impossibly big. "And?"
"And nothing. I bought pregnancy tests today. In Oakland, I might add, since I'm ridiculously paranoid about this." Skip laughed at her but he knew what she meant. She didn't want to buy it in Charming in case someone saw her or told someone in the club about it. "But I haven taken it yet."
"Why not?"
"Wanted to wait for you."
He threw down the cover. "Come on."
"What?"
"We're taking one."
"Now?"
"Yup." He took her hand and pulled her out of bed. "Go get them."
She found them in her bag and he followed her into the bathroom. "I can't go when you're watching."
"You go all the time when I'm in here."
"Yeah, but I have to pee a the stick this time. Turn around."
They both stood next to the test and when the timer rang she took it and looked. She didn't have to say anything, he immediately knew and hugged her tight.
"Baby, you're just a few days late. We'll take another one on tuesday or wednesday."
"It might not be anything yet."
"It's been two months and you were on the pill. You know it might take a while."
"I know." She looked at the stick. "I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"Getting your hopes up."
He took the stick and threw it in the trash before grabbing her face and making her look at him. "Don't do that, Grace. Don't apologies."
"Ok."
He gave her a kiss. "Wanna try again?"
-o0o-
Three months later, Grace was pacing between the kitchen and the hallway and when she finally heard his bike she ran out to the hallway and jumped up in his arms.
"Wow!" he laughed and gave her a kiss. "Not that I don't like when you're all eager beaver but what's going on?"
"I'm pregnant!"
It had taken five months. They didn't talk about it much but she'd been a little sad every time the period came or a test was negative. He'd been so supportive and kept telling her that two, three and four months was nothing. And that there wasn't any panic and that he really liked the 'trying' part. After the first two tests she hadn't let him be with her. Mostly since she wanted to be depressed for a while when it came back negative. He always knew when she'd done a test anyway and he always manged to make her feel better.
But now he looked shocked for a few seconds before it turned into a smile. "We're having a baby."
She nodded and kissed him. "Wanna fuck your pregnant wife?"
"Oh, yes. I want to fuck my pregnant wife."
That night she couldn't sleep. She was happy, really happy but a bit scared too. She turned around and looked at Skip, sleeping next to her. Carefully, she stroke his cheek and ran her thumb along his nose and over his lips. He stirred a little in his sleep before putting his big arm around her.
"Honey," she mumbled with her lips agains his.
"Yeah, baby?" He was hardly awake so she kissed him while pulling a little in his beard. "What?" he said and opened his eyes.
"We can do this, right?"
"Sure we can." He kissed her. Then he looked at her. "Nervous?"
"It's a big thing. It's a little person that we're supposed to take care of, forever." She hugged him closer. "I get nervous about big things."
"Yeah?" he smiled. "Were you nervous before we got married?"
"Terrified. Seriously considered getting into the car and take off."
He put his leg over her. "Bike is faster than a car. Wouldn't have gotten far."
"It's quite possible that dad would've dragged me in there if I tried." She kissed him. "Tell me you were at least a little nervous before the wedding."
"No, not at all."
"Asshole!"
He laughed, "One of us has to stay calm, you know. Take charge and get shit done."
"And how are you going to do that now? When I'm freaking out about the baby." She needed him to tell her that they could do this.
"I'm going to tell you that I love you," he put his big hand on her cheek, "and that you'll be a great mother," he kissed her nose, "and that we'll fight like crazy sometimes but I'll still love you," he kissed her mouth, "and we'll have the most perfect little kid in the world and you'll know that you had nothing to be nervous about."
She stared at him. "Wow! You're good."
"Fucking fantastic," he said with a smile. "All yours."
"You're right. On both accounts." She moved closer and closed her eyes. "Thank you. You can sleep now. Sorry that I woke you up."
"Sleep tight, Beautiful." He kissed her hair again.
"You know, the baby could get your ears."
He chuckled. "I'd still love it. Even the ears. I'd encourage it to grow long hair but I'll love it just the same."
"Can I call it Dumbo if it does?" She was teasing him now and he tickled her.
"No!" He laid on top of her. "No traumatizing our baby. Promise."
"I promise." She looked at him and he had a big smile on his lips. "I love you and your ears."
"Good," he kissed her nose. "Got to sleep."
-o0o-
Ava slammed the oven shut and turned around. Skip and Hap were sitting at the table, discussing some some problem Skip had with his bike. Grace came inside the kitchen with Lemmy behind her and she leaned over to give Skip a kiss. She said something and he nodded with a smile.
She turned around and gave Ava a smile. That's when she knew and she felt the tears well up.
With her arm still around Skip she kept smiling. "We're having a baby."
Ava dried her cheeks and went up to Grace to give her a hug. Then she turned to her slightly shell shocked husband. "You ok?"
"No. Fuck. I just... fuck. I'm already panicking about keeping it safe." He got up from the chair and walked over to Grace. He hugged her hard. "I'm buying you a jeep and you're not going on any rides," he turned to Skip. "No fucking rides."
"Dad!" Grace said and glared at him. "I'll be fine. It'll be fine."
"Yeah, but you know... That's my grandkid." He looked down at Grace's stomach. Skip was standing up so he turned to him and gave him a hug. "You better fucking take care of her and keep her calm."
Ava finally took pity on Grace and Skip so she went over to Happy, put her arms around his waist and hugged him. "They'll be fine and you'll have a beautiful grandkid in...?" she looked at Grace.
"About seven months."
He calmed down a little and hugged her. "Ok."
Lemmy shook his head when he walked up to Grace to hug her. "I bet you he's gonna put you in a room and not even let you outside."
"It's ok. As long as you promise to take it fishing."
"I will." Lemmy gently stroke her stomach. "I'll teach it some tricks as well. The ones you didn't teach me."
-o0o-
That night when they went to bed she turned to Happy.
"She'll be fine and the baby will too."
He put his arms around her. "What if he fucks up? Like I did. I'll have to kill him if he does."
It still hurt sometimes when she thought about it but by now it was a dull pain. Seeing how ashamed he still was about it was the best confirmation she could get that it had never happened again.
"He's not you. They'll have problems but he was younger than you when he met her. He... he doesn't miss the things you missed and he wants that baby. He wasn't handed a dysfunctional family the way you were."
"I was the most dysfunctional thing in this family."
"Precisely. He's not and Grace isn't and he knows for a fact that you'll kill him if he fucks up." She kissed him. "And he wouldn't. He's stood by her for the most insane things, loved her despite all those insane things. I don't think a kid would rattle him the way it did you."
Happy was quiet and she knew what was coming. "I'm still sorry."
"I know that you are, Honey."
A smile grew in his face. "In about seven months I'll fuck a grandma."
"Happy!" She wished she could sound shocked but in truth; she'd been waiting for it.
"What? It's true!"
"Shut up!" she laughed. "That's what you're getting form all that? Not that we'll have a grandkid?"
"No. I'm thinking about that too." He was still smiling. "It's gonna be great. I'll be the nice grandpa that it never yells at."
"Hear you're already planning." Ava looked at Happy who looked... stunned, in a good way.
"It's a girl," he said with certainty. "She'd gonna be perfect."
"I think it's a boy. You bikers seems to have so much testosterone that you mostly make boys."
"No. It's a girl. Not saying Skip doesn't have testosterone but this is Grace we're talking about. We'll have a new little Grace. And this one will never tell me she hates me."
"They say that grandkids are life's desert."
"I like that. Life's desert." He looked down on her again. "Not even gonna freak a little that she's not finished with school?"
"No. We'll help her. The entire club will."
"They fucking better."
"Don't think you need to worry. They'll help, they'll love it."