Charlie was surprised to see Gemma sipping on coffee and talking to a middle-aged woman on Maureen's Ashby's couch. Happy had woken her up a couple of hours earlier, telling her that he and the others were going on a run with SAMBEL. She knew he would be gone for most of the day, so she had taken her time getting out of bed. After a shower, she took the time to braid her hair into boxer braids. She was trying to put off going downstairs for as long as possible. Their argument during the party had been so embarrassing.
"Morning, Charlie," Gemma said as soon as Charlie walked into the small living area. "There's a fresh pot of coffee if you want some."
"No thank you." Charlie looked out of the window. The parking lot below was almost empty. "Are we supposed to stay inside?"
"No, but where are you planning on going?" Gemma chuckled. Charlie shrugged and pulled her bomber jacket off the coat rack.
"You're welcome to come with me, Gemma. When's the next time you're going to be in Ireland?" Gemma shook her head, so Charlie continued. "I'm not helping anyone by sitting around here. I'll have my phone on me."
"Can I go with you?" Maureen's daughter asked shyly. "No offense but it would be nice to get out of here."
"Sure, I don't mind." Charlie noticed Maureen nod.
"Be careful, Trinity." Her mother said, sharing a look with her daughter. Charlie could tell there some unsaid message between them but she didn't want to pry. Charlie and Trinity set out walked a couple of blocks in silence. Charlie looked around at the houses and small shops while Trinity focused on the sidewalk.
"You don't seem like an old lady." Trinity finally said. Charlie glanced over at her, wondering how she had meant that. "No offense, you just seem nicer than most of them."
"They're not all that bad." Charlie thought of Tara and how kind she had been when Charlie first met her. She hated that Jax had broken things off with her before they left for Ireland but it was out of her hands. Hopefully getting Abel back would help them. "I haven't been around the club long."
"You're dating the angry one, right?" The younger girl asked.
"Happy. Yeah. He isn't always angry. Your father is Keith?" Trinity shook her head but didn't offer an answer. "No offense but why did you decide to come with me?"
"To get away from the store and clubhouse. Gemma is a little intense and my Ma has been on edge. It's nice to be around my age." Her eyes widened as Charlie chuckled.
"Sorry. How old do you think I am?"
"Twenty-three? Twenty-four?" Trinity's cheeks started blushing. Charlie smiled and shook her head.
"I'm thirty-three but thank you," Charlie said. "I still don't mind you walking with me though. I was hoping to find a market I saw online."
"St. George's?" Trinity asked. Charlie nodded. "It's this way. I haven't been in months."
For the first time in months, Charlie felt normal. Just walking around the market, looking at all the different vendors and shops reminded her of how much her life had changed since meeting Happy. She missed feeling safe without him. As they continued walking, Charlie started wondering if things would ever get better as Happy had said.
"We need ta go," Trinity said, returning after answering a phone call. Charlie saw the panic written all over her face, so she didn't ask questions. They hailed a cab and pulled up to the shop right behind the club motorcycles. The first thing Charlie smelled was blood. Her stomach churned, reminding her that she hadn't eaten and that she hadn't gotten sick that morning. She had gotten sick every morning for the past three weeks. Her heartbeat started picking up.
"Hey, what's wrong?" Happy had blood on his forearms but she didn't see any wounds. She tried to swallow down her fear. "Charlie."
"Are you okay?" She choked. He nodded and pulled her away from everyone else. She saw Gemma watching them closely. "I'm scared."
"Scared?" Happy repeated.
"I didn't get sick this morning. I didn't have morning sickness. What if something's wrong?" Charlie bit down on her bottom lip, refusing to cry. Happy's eyes dropped to her stomach.
"What happened?" Gemma walked up, looking between them. Happy opened his mouth to speak but closed it without a word. "Happy, take care of what you need to do. Find my grandson and I'll help Charlie."
"No." Happy growled protectively. Charlie managed to swallow and take a deep breath. She nodded at him.
"It's okay. Go." Charlie kissed him and forced a smile. He furrowed his brow. "I'll find a clinic or something and make sure everything is okay. There's nothing you can do."
Gemma sat next to Charlie in the small clinic. She wasn't accustomed to seeing the girl distressed. She was normally calm and relaxed. It was annoying. Now, she was pulling at a hangnail and bouncing her foot nervously. Her eyes were wide, like a deer in headlights.
"Charlotte Dover?" The nurse called. Charlie jumped to her feet, grabbing Gemma's hand to invite her back. Gemma was surprised but she wasn't going to argue. She remembered how nervous she was with her first pregnancy. The nurse took down a list of Charlie's concerns and asked a series of questions about her pregnancy so far. When the questions turned sexual, Gemma tried not to listen. She was no prude but she didn't need to know the ins and outs of Happy and Charlie's sex life.
"Thank you for coming with me," Charlie said, still picking at her nails. "I know you probably have enough on your plate with Abel."
"Strong women still need their hands held sometimes. You're part of the family, sweetheart. They start prodding around in your vagina and I'm stepping out." Gemma said, hoping for a laugh. Charlie just nodded. "With my first pregnancy, I went to the doctor three times a month my first trimester. I was convinced the baby was just going to disappear."
"You have another child?"
"He passed away when Jax was young. Heart Defect." Gemma said.
"I'm sorry." Charlie's eyes dropped to her hands. The doctor walked back in before Gemma responded. When she mentioned an ultrasound, Charlie's eyes started getting teary. "I haven't had one yet. I did a blood test and everything but I was going to have an ultrasound when I got home. I wanted my boy-my fiancé there."
"Ms. Dover, the best way to check on the baby at this point is with an ultrasound. If something is wrong, your blood work would not show any changes yet." The doctor frowned. Gemma stood up and took Charlie's hand.
"I'll video it for him. You can show him later and still go to the doctor when you get home, okay?" Gemma's offer calmed Charlie. The younger woman nodded. Gemma watched as the staff rolled an ultrasound machine into the room. She started videoing with her phone once Charlie had pulled her shirt up.
"Here's your baby." The doctor pointed at a little white figure on the screen. Charlie's tears started falling as she smiled. "How far along did you say you were?"
"The doctor thinks about six weeks," Charlie said, wiping tears off her face. The doctor paused the image on the screen.
"You are at least nine weeks, dear. See how you can make out the baby's head?" The doctor pointed to the screen. Charlie nodded and smiled. "Everything looks great. Let's see if we can hear a heartbeat."
Happy jumped off the bike as soon as he saw the cab pull up. Gemma and Charlie were both smiling. He felt the elephant on his chest start to lift. Gemma handed a phone to Charlie and nodded before splitting off. Happy closed the distance between him and Charlie.
"Is everything okay?" Happy asked, pulling her to him and kissing her before she could answer. He felt Charlie smile against his mouth. "Baby is okay? You're okay?"
"We're both good. The doctor said my body could be experiencing jet lag. I might get sick later or I might be through the morning sickness phase. They had to do an ultrasound." Charlie's voice fell a little. Happy tilted her chin up. "I'm sorry. I wanted to wait for you to be there for the first one."
"It's okay, babe. As long as you're both good." Happy was surprised that he felt a little disappointed. He hated doctor's offices but he would have liked to see their kid.
"Gemma took a video on her phone and I have pictures if you want to see." Charlie offered. He smiled and kissed her again.
"Show me." She blinked and looked around the crowded lot. He shook his head. "I don't care. They'll know eventually. I want to see my kid."
"The doctor thinks I'm closer to nine weeks. She said this looks like a head. I don't know." Charlie chuckled nervously. Happy was fixated on the video. The doctor ran the wand over her flat stomach and speakers in the room started playing a heartbeat. His cheeks were starting to hurt from smiling. She handed him printouts of the ultrasound. "These are for you. I got two copies."
"Thank you, Charlie. We'll figure shit out with the club, okay? I just don't want to lose you two." He ran his fingers over her stomach and smirked. "Those tiny shorts of yours aren't going to fit soon."
"Laugh it up. You'll be the one going to get me ice cream and pickles in the middle of the night." Charlie laughed.
"Cookie dough?" He asked.
"Aw, you remembered." She purred. "I want to get married before the baby comes."
"Do it tomorrow if you want, babe." Happy wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her towards the rest of the club.
"Maybe we can wait until we're back in California so it's legal and everything."
"I guess." He took a beer and asked the woman to get Charlie a bottle of water. "Hey, come here."
"What?" Kozik growled, his eye still red and swollen. Happy pulled him into a hug, clapping him on the back. "You two make up?"
"Yeah. Thanks for calling me out on my shit last night, you and Chibs." Happy broke the hug and offered his hand. Kozik shook it with a nod. "We're having a kid."
"What? Really? Dude, I love babies. I'm an awesome uncle." Kozik said quickly. Charlie laughed and leaned into Happy. "Just don't name him Herman. He'll hate it."
"I'll try to remember that," Charlie said, rolling her eyes. "You know, it could be a girl."
"Nah." Kozik shook his head. Happy smirked, amused by Charlie's frustration with Kozik. He was still trying to accept that he could be her friend without wanting to fuck her.
"Need you to buy a white shirt or something when we get back home." Happy said, finishing his beer. Kozik cocked his head to the side. Happy shrugged the shoulder that Charlie wasn't leaning on. "I mean, if you don't want to then I can get Tig to be the best man."
"Whaaaat? He tricked you into marrying his dumbass?" Kozik teased. Happy raised his middle finger as Charlie giggled. "Yeah, bro. I'll hold your hand at the wedding."
"Never mind." Happy growled, walking towards the ice chest for another beer. Kozik followed him, laughing and teasing him about the wedding.
"Congratulations." A red-headed woman said, walking up to Charlie. She had seen her around a couple of times, usually with O'Neill, but had never spoken to her. "I'm Cherry."
"Oh." Charlie's heart sank. She remembered hearing about Cherry around the Charming clubhouse. Half-sack had told her how Happy smuggled Cherry out of the country so she wouldn't be arrested. He said he'd never be able to repay Happy for it. The woman nodded and looked at her feet.
"Jax said you tried to save Kip," Cherry said sadly. Charlie's breath hitched as she nodded. "Thank you."
"You don't have to thank me. I wish I could have done more." Charlie admitted. Cherry looked up with tears in her eyes, excusing herself quickly. Charlie looked around the lot and felt mixed emotions. SAMBEL had lost men to an IED earlier that day and members of SAMCRO narrowly escaped the same fate. She was scared and looking forward to leaving Ireland, hoping more danger didn't follow them home. Despite the horror and the loss, many of the men still found it in their hearts to celebrate her pregnancy and engagement to Happy. People kept hugging her and congratulating them.
"Can I talk to you?" Charlie asked, pulling Happy away from a debate over motorcycle exhausts. He followed her as she looked for a secluded area. "I want to try something. I don't know if it will work or if you'll be okay with it, but I want to try."
Charlie explained the idea that she had been turning over in her mind for the last few hours. She repeated several times that she didn't know if it would work. She didn't think it could get any worse though. Happy heard her out, listening to every word and thinking of every possible outcome. The more she talked about it, the more interested he was and the more skeptical she seemed.
"What's up?" Jax asked, leaning against the brick wall and looking from Happy to Charlie. Happy had decided to bring Charlie's idea to him. He trusted Jax.
"Charlie has a plan that could shorten the club's time inside." Happy started. Charlie felt nervous, knowing what was about to come. "Her father is a federal judge."
"What? You never told us that, Hap. She's been around the club for months." Jax rubbed the back of his neck. "Bro, when Clay finds out it's going to be bad."
"I didn't tell him. He didn't know until the night before Abel was kidnapped. Stahl came to press me for information and I threatened to tell my father she was harassing me. He golfs with a lot of higher-ups in the ATF and stuff." Charlie glanced at Happy and he nodded for her to continue. "I haven't talked to him in a few years. We didn't see eye to eye about my discharge from the Air Force and we haven't talked since then."
"So, why do you think he would help the club?" Jax asked. Charlie frowned, wondering the same thing.
"She's going to have their first grandchild. Charlie thinks she can get him to help because he's always wanted, grandchildren." Happy summarized the reasons Charlie had given him. She had told him about her father's dream of having a large family. She had started feeling guilty like she was planning on using their child to pressure her father to help the club. Happy assured her that they could approach it from a different way. There wouldn't be an ultimatum or threats.
"Brother, I don't know. Seems like something that we should bring to the club." Jax said with a frown. Happy nodded but Charlie shook her head.
"I'm sorry but I think you're wrong. Clay already called for a hit on a member for thinking he was a rat." Charlie noticed Jax's eyes widen. "Sorry."
"Damn, Hap. You tell her everything?" Jax laughed.
"Pretty much." Happy said. The three of them talked the plan over for a while longer before Jax finally agreed to keep it quiet. Happy said he would take full responsibility for any blowback, refusing to let anything fall on Charlie.
Happy walked into the plane and up to the cockpit, taking the co-pilot seat next to Charlie. She was wearing her bomber jacket again, her sunglasses hanging out of her pocket. He could tell she felt more confident this time around. Her eyes were bright and the corners of her lips were curled upwards as she flipped switches and wrote in a log book. He was relieved to be headed home, his club and family whole. The plane's engines roared as they came to life.
"Here." Charlie handed him a headset with a smile. He turned and watched her hop down into the cargo area and do one last check of the load straps and door. "Good to go."
"You miss it, don't you?" Happy asked after they had been in the air for several minutes. She glanced over at him but didn't answer or nod her head. "You seem more comfortable this go around."
"I always loved flying at night. In my jet, it felt like I could just reach out and touch a star." Charlie laughed and leaned back a little. "Wow, I sound like some hallmark card."
"Nah, I get it. Riding used to feel like that. Still can if I'm riding alone." Happy said. He sometimes missed the rides down to Bakersfield. He didn't have to be in a rush or worry too much about rival clubs. He just enjoyed the open road and his bike. "You've changed since I met you, Charlie."
"I know. It's been really hard adjusting to being in a relationship again and finding my place in Charming." Charlie looked over at him with a sad smile. "I'm doing the best I can."
"Are you happy?" He asked.
"I'm happy with you. The club life is still an adjustment." Charlie said. He nodded, understanding that she was still new to the club, new to his lifestyle. "I'm going to finally get comfortable and then we're going to have a kid."
"Yeah. I never thought I'd have a kid." Happy admitted. "Hell, I never thought I'd have an old lady but I guess Ma was right about you."
"Yeah?" Charlie smiled. "You should get some sleep."
"Gotta keep you awake behind the wheel." Happy yawned.
"Nah, these buses practically fly themselves. You didn't sleep at all last night, Hap. We've got a long drive to San Diego when we get back." Charlie said, squeezing his hand. He rolled his eyes and closed his eyes, knowing he wouldn't be able to sleep much over the next week.
"Hey." Charlie looked over as Happy sat up quickly. She was starting to descend and it seemed to startle him awake.
"Shit. How long have I been out?" Happy asked, looking out of the windows. It was daylight and they were below the clouds.
"About nine hours. We're landing in a few minutes." Charlie said, pushing the nose of the plane down a little further. "You talk in your sleep, you know."
"Not usually." Happy grumbled. "You feel okay?"
"Yeah, baby. Kozik brought me a sandwich and fruit a few hours ago." Charlie noticed his scowl deepen. "Why don't you like him being nice to me?"
"It isn't his job." Happy said, stretching and scratching his scalp. His hair was starting to grow out a little along with his beard. She knew he didn't like it but she loved the way it felt. "What?"
"Can you manage to not shave your head until we get back from my parent's? I like touching it." Charlie smiled brightly, pleading him to keep it.
"Fine." He sighed.
A/N: I have good news and bad news. Good news is, I'm working on a new story! Bad news is, it came about due to some writers block with this story. Don't worry, I'm not abandoning it. I'm just trying to work through some things in the creative process. I'm still aiming for weekly updates but don't look for any multiple updates per week on this one, at least not for a little while. Thank you again for your continued support!