A month later:

Fitz walked into the clubhouse in the evening after work. Life had been going good for him lately. Liv had been much happier since she told her parents about them and the baby. On the days she wasn't working, she and Maya would go shopping. He would come home to boxes all around the house with something new she liked. She changed the layout of their bedroom and parts of the house. She said the energy flowed better but he really didn't give a fuck what she did as long as she was happy.

He had been spending a lot of time with Eli on the weekends. All four of them would get together once a week for dinner. He and Eli would leave the women alone and have man-to-man conversations. He really appreciated those talks. In those moments he wished his father would have stuck around to teach him all the things he needed to know.

Eli had been sending his shop more business than he and Buzz could handle alone. Eli started out by sending him a few customers and then word started traveling about his service and work ethic. Now he had a steady flow of work. He was making a good profit. He even bought his Bunny an engagement ring.

His mother finally forgave him. He had learned to put his family first. Life was good.

He walked in and looked around the main room. Things had certainly calmed down after clearing out the whores and strippers. A few guys left after that happened but most stayed because the club was about doing something good. He waved at Beth who was vacuuming the rug. She was never far from Skull. She always made sure the place was clean which was a hard feat with over 50 members coming and going. Only voting members such as himself and a few others had rooms here. He got a new and better mattress for his room. The main reason was so when Liv came with him during Run Nights and those late planning nights, she could sleep comfortably in his bed. The other reason was because he didn't want her to lay down on a mattress that he had sex with other women on. He made a promise that she would not be touched by his past anymore.

He walked to Skull's office and knocked on the door.

Skull yelled, "Yo!"

Fitz went inside and closed the door behind him, "Hey Prez! Got a minute."

Skull nodded, "Yeah man. What's up?"

Fitz sat in the chair across from him, "I was wondering if you could put it out to the guys that I am looking to get more help at the shop. I know a few of them got their repair certificate."

Skull leaned back in his chair, "Yeah, no problem. I heard you've been getting more business. That's good bro."

"Yeah, Liv's dad is teaching me how to build custom bikes. His shop has so many orders for bikes that he has a waiting list. He is going to give me a few orders then hopefully I can expand the shop."

Skull nodded in approval, "Yeah, that's what's up. More business for you is more money for Liv and the baby, right?"

Fitz chuckled, "Yeah. I will give her my last if I have to. She and her mom have been shopping up a storm. But she is happy, then I am happy."

Skull rubbed the back of his head, "Yeah, I know what you mean. Beth has joined her on a few of those shopping trips. Damn woman tried to burn a hole in my credit card."

Fitz laughed and stood up, "I bet. I am going home tonight to cuddle with my Bunny and watch whatever crap she wants. I might be the Alpha male, but she truly runs everything."

Skull stood up, "Believe me brother. They know it. But I need you to do me a favor."

"Anything."

Skull sighed, "Go downstairs to the bar and talk to Chopper. He is having a hard time since Elise left. He needs us. He refuses to go home. He is not himself. I've tried but I don't think I am getting through to him."

Fitz shook his hand, "You got it."

He walked downstairs towards the bar area. Just as Skull said, Chopper was sitting at the bar with a drink in his hand.

The bartender looked at him silently asking if he needed a drink. He shook his head no.

Fitz sat down by him, "What's up man?"

Chopper looked to his right to see Fitz. His words were slurred a little, "Hey Bones. What are you doing here? Run night is tomorrow."

He agreed, "Yeah, I came to talk to the Prez. I need some help at the shop. How about you come and work with me?"

Chopper took a sip of his drink, "Might as well. It's not like I got anything left in my life."

Fitz looked around and noticed a few people in the area, "How are Elise and the kids doing?"

Chopper sighed, "They are staying at a hotel. I keep telling her to come home so we can talk. She says she has nothing left to say."

"I am sure you miss your kids. I already love my little Nugget and he or she is not even here."

Chopper scoffed, "Get all the sex you want now cause once the baby is here, she will complain about how tired she is. That's why I started bringing other women in our bedroom. She was never in the mood. I had needs."

Fitz paused before asking, "What about her needs?"

Chopper looked at him like he had grown a second head, "What?!"

Fitz faced him head on, "What about her needs? Did you ever stop and ask why she was tired? Did you offer to give her a break with the baby? When was the last time you took her out on a date that didn't involve bringing her to the clubhouse?"

"You think you know it all?"

Fitz shook his head, "No, I don't. I went through hell when I lost my Bunny. I had to learn quickly that it's not always about me and what I want or need. Just like it's not always about you. Ask Elise what she wants. You are staying here. Why not offer her the house so she and the kids can be comfortable? Give her space. Show her that you can put her first."

Chopper looked somberly, "Do you think it will work?"

Fitz shrugged, "I don't know but you need to try something different than what you have been doing."

He looked off into space, "Every year I promised to take her and the kids to Disneyland, but I never do."

Fitz simply asked, "Why?"

He sighed, "I hate roller coasters."

Fitz smiled, "Let me tell you a story. Every year from the time my Bunny was 8 till she was 18, her parents took her to Disneyland on her birthday. Do you know how many rides her father rode?"

Chopper shook his head no.

Fitz held up a single finger, "One. He only rode the spinning teacups with her every year. But believe it or not, those are the memories my Bunny cherishes the most. Those few moments on the tea cups with her father."

Chopper said softly, "It's not always about me."

Fitz felt like he was finally getting through to him. He wanted to leave him with food for thought, "Bunny's father is a good man. I've been spending a lot of time with him. I asked him how he kept his family together being in a club, around the whores and everything else. He told me that life is like a luxury car. Some things are standard on the car like the windshield, brakes, steering wheel and the gas tank. Other things are optional like satellite radio and a navigation system. You following me?"

Chopper nodded.

Fitz continued, "The standard things are what's needed for the car to run. What would happen if you spent too much time playing with the optional things that you forget to put gas in the car or clean the windshield or just forget to do basic maintenance to your car?"

Chopper answered, "Eventually it will stop working."

Fitz slammed his hand on the bar, "Exactly. A car with a navigation system is no good without any gas. That's how life is. Your family and your relationship with Elise are the things that are standard. Everything else including the whores are optional. You need to perform maintenance on your relationship so that you can function. Do you feel me?"

Chopper perked up, "Hell yeah. Everything else is a want but Elise and my two girls are a need." He looked at the bartender, "Get me some coffee."

Fitz clapped him on the back as he stood up, "Go get your family, brother."

He shook Fitz's hand, "I will see you at work tomorrow."

"Good deal."

Fitz hurried home. He walked into the house yelling, "Bunny!"

She yelled back, "Kitchen!"

He walked over a box, "More money spent. What was delivered today?"

She laughed, "Supplies for the new surfboard I am working on. You can save your complaints."

He put his arms around her and gave her a kiss, "You know you can order anything you want. I am just messing with you."

She smiled, "I know."

He got on his knees and lifted her shirt, "Hey Nugget! Daddy is home. I hope you were a good baby for mommy."

Liv rubbed his head as he kissed her stomach, "Yes, Nugget was good. No throwing up. I took a nap before mom came."

He kept kissing her little pouch of a stomach, "I can't believe you are over 4 months. I can't wait to feel my Nugget kick."

She slowly moved away, "You can kiss my stomach all night as usual but let me get my food and sit on the couch."

They sat on the couch together with his head in her lap kissing her stomach periodically. He knew that tomorrow was Run Night and he wanted to devote as much one-on-one attention to her as possible. They ate dinner and just enjoyed spending quality time with each other.

X X

The next day after the work day was finished, Fitz called Liv as he was closing up the shop.

She answered on the second ring, "Hey, baby!"

He smiled when he heard her voice, "Tell me you are in the Jeep headed to the clubhouse."

He could picture her rolling her eyes when she answered sarcastically, "My day was great. Thank you for asking. Yes, I am in the car headed to the clubhouse. Anything else you need to know."

He laughed, "Don't get cute with me. You know I am just worried about you. I am leaving the shop now headed there."

She soften her tone, "Okay baby. I will probably be somewhere eating. Your child is making up for the morning sickness phase."

"Love you and Nugget."

"We love you too, Daddy."

Fitz hung up and started walking towards his bike when another motorcycle pulled up. Fitz spoke to the guy when he turned off his bike.

"Sorry, man. The shop is closed. You can come back tomorrow."

The guy took off his glasses and smiled a sinister smile. Fitz knew who he was immediately. Devil from the Hounds of Hades MC. He was bad news. His club ran guns, drugs and women. Fitz knew nothing good could come from him being there.

Devil laughed, "Bones, I see you are in good health. That's good. I heard your shop was picking up. That's making more money for your club."

Fitz didn't bother correcting him. It wasn't Devil's damn business that he bought the shop from the club.

Devil kept talking, "You should come join the HOH. A few of your crew came to us after your Prez made an executive decision banding the club whores. If you join us, I can get you a seat at the head of the table plus all the ass and tail you want. But here is a little incentive."

He tossed Fitz a backpack from the back of his bike. Fitz opened it and saw several stacks of money. He knew better than to touch it.

He looked at Devil, "What's this?"

Devil smiled his sinister smile again, "That's 5 Gs. A gift from me to you."

Fitz dropped the bag and folded his arms, "What do I have to do for this gift?"

Devil laughed, "You are a smart man. I need you to give me information on that gun run. I got a buyer up in Jersey that would pay top dollar for your club's products. If we could get our hands on them, I can make you a rich man then you buy your own shop instead of being your club's puppet."

Fitz looked at him for a few minutes then he reached down to pick up the bag. He tossed it back to Devil, "No thank you. I am good where I am."

Devil shrugged, "Come on, I am giving you a chance to be on a winning team. There is a war coming and the Angels will lose."

Fitz looked him in the eye, "Bring it!"

Devil paused then laughed a cynical laugh, "You got it, Bones."

Devil left leaving Fitz worried and anxious. He quickly hopped on his bike and took off towards the club.

X X

When Liv walked into the clubhouse, she spoke and waved to a few of the brothers. She walked past the bar headed for the kitchen.

Beth started laughing loudly when she saw her, "Nugget must be hungry."

Liv made beeline for the fridge, "You and my mother can no longer go shopping with me. It's bad enough that Fitz calls my baby Nugget, now you and my mom are too."

Beth thought she was hilarious, "It was funny to see him go into protective daddy mode when you tried to carry your shopping bags in the house."

Liv bit into her sandwich she made, "See that's what I am talking about. My mom thinks every idiotic caveman thing he does is sweet and funny."

Beth eyed her opening a Coke can, "He is going to flip his shit when he sees you drink that."

Liv rolled her eyes, "He is not here. I haven't had a soda in about a week because he cleaned out anything unhealthy from the fridge. Plus, he sends me a pre-ordered lunch, or he makes me one on days I work then I am at the shop helping him in the office on days I am off. I need this caffeine."

Beth sat down on the counter, "I heard he hired Chopper and few others to work the shop since business has picked up. Chopper looked better when I saw him leave this morning. Elise said he gave her and the kids the house. He promised to back off and give her space, but he wants his family back. I made Skull go change the locks so that she would be comfortable staying there."

Liv bobbed her head, "You think he is sincere."

Beth rubbed her neck, "I think he loves her, but he just got caught up in the freeness of easy ass. He didn't let her drive at night unless he followed her. He was upset after she got into a car accident one night. Elise is his world. But he forgot that for a little while."

"I hope they work it out."

As if he heard his name, Chopper walked into the kitchen.

He spoke to Beth, "Hey, Beth" then he turned to Liv, "Hey, Olivia. Fitz was telling me how your father took you to Disneyland every year for your birthday. I want to take Elise and the girls next week. Could you help me buy some tickets and recommend a few things? I want it to be special for them."

Liv was shocked for a minute, "Y-yeah. We can do that. We should also schedule the princess experience where they can get a makeover into any Disney Princess they want to be."

Chopper had a big smile, "That would be awesome. I bet they would love that."

Beth slapped him on the shoulder, "That would be a cute picture. Bad biker daddy with cute little princesses."

Chopper put his hands up in a praying manner, "You guys are awesome. I need to get my family back and I will do whatever it takes."

Liv looked at him, "Just take it one step at a time. Rome was not built in a day. It takes teamwork and patience. If Elise decides to give you another chance, then you must be damn near perfect. Don't give up if she shoots you down the first 99 times. Keep trying."

He took a deep breath, "I will. She and my kids are worth every single effort."

Liv raised her Coke, "Amen!"

She jumped when she heard Fitz from the doorway, "Why are you drinking that soda?"

Beth was laughing behind her hand as she and Chopper left the kitchen.

Liv put the drink down, "I was craving caffeine. I wanted a Coke."

He took the can off the table and poured it down the sink. He pushed his fingers through his hair in frustration, "I really don't need this shit now. You know you are not supposed to have caffeine. Nugget needs nutrition and vitamins which you didn't take yesterday. I guess I need to put a prospect on you to make sure you are eating healthy."

She folded her arms, "I don't need a bodyguard. It was one damn soda. Yesterday you saw me throwing up in the morning. I just forgot to take it. You act like I am trying to kill our child. A child you didn't even want me to have in the first place."

Fitz took several deep breaths to calm his nerves, "Fine. One soda a week."

Liv looked at him for a moment, "You are worried about something and it damn sure isn't about me drinking a soda. What happened because you were fine earlier?"

Fitz sighed as he pulled her into his arms. He squeezed her tightly, "No matter what happens I will always protect you."

She pulled back from him, "What's going on?"

He slowly shook his head, "I don't know but we need to be ready."

He pulled her into a soul quenching kiss. She knew he was seeking her to be his anchor. She pulled him deeper into the kiss letting their tongues taste each other.

When they finally pulled apart, Liv rested her forehead against his, "We love you so much."

He squeezed her shoulders, "You and Nugget are my world. Never question that. I made mistakes before with both of you, but I am in this for the long haul."

Liv teared up at his statement, "Me too."

He kissed her forehead, "I got to go talk to Prez. It's Run night. If you get tired, go to bed. I will check on you when I get a chance."

They kissed one more time before he walked out.

X X

Skull slammed his hand down on the table, "Bastards!"

Fitz had told them about his exchange with Devil. They were in a meeting with all the table members. Everyone was angry and ready to hurt someone.

Skull looked at Fitz, "Did he say which members left or turned on us?"

Fitz shook his head, "No, I don't know names or how many."

Skull looked around the table at his brothers, "Most of you in here have Old Ladies downstairs and at one point expressed your desire to get rid of the whores. That is why you are at this table. You believe that our club is doing a job for the greater good."

A brother spoke up, "Buzz is the only one here without an Old Lady. He was with Diamond for while. He may have a grudge."

Buzz stood up, "Fuck you! Prez kicking the whores out did me a favor. Diamond wasn't going to stop stripping and I don't need an old lady that every brother has seen naked or over half the club has fucked. Personally, I am trying to holler at Olivia's friend, Abby. You know I love feisty red heads."

The brothers yelled in support.

Skull raised his hand, "Okay there are 6 of us in here with over 50 members to keep and eye on. Something is not right. We need to talk strategies."

Fitz raised his hand, "We do a decoy run. We put the original crew on the original run. But we send a backup crew going a different route with the real guns. Only us in this room will know the route. If we have a snitch, they will try to ambush the original run, but they won't get the product."

Skull nodded and everyone around the table agreed. They found a route and coordinate the new dropped with Charles' crew. They were going to meet at a halfway point between there and San Francisco

The club all got together with the ladies and had dinner. Run nights were a catered feast. About 9 pm, the original crew suited up to ride out. An empty decoy box was placed in the back of the SUV with 10 bikers riding in front.

An hour after they left, the real guns were placed in another SUV with only 5 bikers riding with it. Buzz led that crew.

After they left, Fitz checked on Liv to find her sleeping in his bed. Her first Run Night experience had completely exhausted her. She looked so beautiful and peaceful. He kissed her cheek and kissed her stomach saying good night to her and Nugget.

He went back down to meeting room where they were tracking both runs. About 10 minutes later, the leader of the original crew came over the radio.

"Prez, something's not right."

Skull picked up the walking-talkie, "What's going on?"

"My headlights flashed on something up ahead. I don't know what it is but it's something."

Skull looked around at the table, "We got a traitor."

Fitz nodded his head, "Bring them back."

Skull spoke to his team leader, "Abort! Abort! Get your asses back here."

"Gunfire! Shots fired!"

They heard gunshots ringing over the radio. They heard the leader directing his members to take cover. It sounded like pure chaos. Everything was over in a few minutes.

The crew leader came back on the radio, "Prez, they shot at the truck and blew the tires. We have a few injuries, but no one is dead."

Skull was fuming, "Get all of your men back here. I will call the doc."

"10-4."

They all sat at the table quietly. No one said a word. Buzz called Skull's phone.

He answered on speaker, "Yeah!"

Buzz spoke load and clear, "Drop is complete. They met us at the rendezvous point. The exchange was quick and easy."

Skull grit his teeth, "Good deal. Now get your asses back here. The other team got ambushed."

Fitz stood up, "Only a handful of people knew about the route, time and location."

Skull nodded, "Make a list and we will do some investigating. Hounds of Hades will be pissed when they discover the box is empty. They wanted a war, now they got one."