A/N: I made a HUGE boo boo and posted chapter 11 as chapter 10. Blame it on the Nyquil I've been taking for the cold that will not go away. So I'm reposting in the proper order. HUGE apologies to everyone. I can't believe that I did that.

CHAPTER TEN

Della Edmond was a woman who got what she wanted. It had started way back when she was three and determined to be a princess. Her parents had caved and she'd walked around wearing a tiara for three years until she decided that she'd rather be Batman. That determination had carried her through school, graduating two years ahead of the kids that she'd gone to kindergarten with and on to college and law school.

Now she had an office in a prestigious firm, it didn't matter that she was still a junior partner because that wouldn't last long. She had her eyes on a huge corner office and her name on the door. It would happen in good time.

Madeline Walker's case was going to be her first with the firm. She'd lied to the woman; she didn't give a shit if the Charming Board of Education was on a witch hunt. She cared that the woman was connected to one of the firms biggest and most elusive clients; the Sons of Anarchy.

"Ms. Edmond; you have a Gwen Parker from the Charming School Board on the line." The receptionist spoke through the intercom.

"Let her hold for a few minutes and then transfer her through." Della instructed as she began to rearrange the items on her desk. When the call came through she answered it in a terse tone. "Hello Ms. Parker. I really hope that you're calling with the information that I requested." She listened for a moment and scribbled down a name, Justin Ray. "Thank you Ms. Parker. Now, if you'll excuse me I have work to do."

10 10 10

"Three weeks is not a lot of time to plan a wedding." Eve pointed out with a small frown as she looked at her new daughter.

"Three weeks is plenty of time." The gleam in Gemma's eye sent a little stake of fear directly into Madeline's heart. "I already called a friend on the reservation, they'll let us have the space where Opie and Lyla got hitched."

Madeline had expected Gemma and Tig to be gone by the time that they returned from the ride but instead she'd found her house full of people with Eve holding court over all of them. It had only taken about sixty seconds for the woman to spot the ring on her finger and then everyone in the house knew. It didn't take long before the guys who weren't there started to show up and now it was the women in the living room and the guys in the backyard.

"I saw pictures from the ceremony, it was a beautiful spot." Her head began to pound as she wondered just how much of a say she was going to have in her own wedding as Gemma and Eve started talking again. When they began discussing garters Madeline realized that she was going to be lucky if she was allowed to walk down the aisle under her own steam but she didn't really care too much about the details. What she did care about was Eve being able to enjoy the wedding.

Still, when her phone rang it was a blessing to be taken away from the debate over the color scheme. "Excuse me, it's the lawyer. I've got to take this." Once she was down the hall from them she answered the call. "Madeline Walker."

"Della Edmond here Madeline. I got the call that we were waiting for. Do you know a student named Justin Ray?"

"Justin?" Madeline almost dropped the phone as she sat down on the hall floor. "He's one of my best students, we've never had a problem! I don't understand why he of all people would lie."

"We will get to the bottom of it." The woman assured her. "I'm going to set up a meeting with him and his parents."

"He's eighteen," Madeline told the woman.

"That's even better. Now, just lay low until I set the meeting." The lawyer told her. "I'll be in contact with you shortly."

"I'll do that. I've actually got some stuff going on here."

"What sort of stuff?"

"Wedding planning actually." Sure she barely knew the woman but the more and more she thought about the ring on her finger, the more that she wanted to just tell the world.

"Wedding planning?" Della's voice rose several octaves. "Your wedding?"

"Yes."

"To your Son boyfriend?"

"Be kind of weird if it wasn't."

"Madeline, you do realize that part of the problem the school board has with you is that you're affiliated with the Sons, right?"

"My personal life isn't their business." Madeline said with an edge to her voice.

"The contract that you signed with them has a morals clause."

"And getting married violates that?" Madeline demanded.

"They're going to see becoming a biker Old Lady as a violation of it. You are involved with Happy Lowman, correct?"

"Correct," Madeline could hear the sound of papers rustling through the phone.

"He has an extensive criminal record." Della said with obvious judgment in her voice. "Are you aware of that?"

"Yes. I am." She kept her voice firm and rose to her feet. "And I'm marrying him and I don't give a flying fuck what anyone says." The words came out a low dangerous hiss. "And as my lawyer it's your job to make sure that I get my job back or a fat settlement from the school board so I suggest you do your job."

Madeline ended the call with such force that she feared she'd actually broken the screen. She drew in a deep breath. "You alright?" She glanced over to see Tig standing there. "I was grabbing Eve something to eat, she's going to use all of her strength with how excited she is. Got to tell you Doll, never thought I'd see the day when Hap committed to a white picket fence life."

"I don't want a white picket fence life anymore than he does," she snapped and immediately regretted it. "Sorry Tig."

"Nah, don't fuck it up by apologizing." He told her with a chuckle. "Like to see you with a little fire. Gonna need it with your Old Man." Tig smiled widely. "He decide on the ink yet?"

"Across my forehead apparently," she responded with a smile. Truthfully he hadn't said much except that he had the design in his mind. She'd asked to see and he'd just shook his head. It would be a surprise. "You really sitting in on the wedding planning with Gemma and Eve?"

"Fuck no, I'm just dropping off the food and running before I get assigned a task. Then I'm going to head back outside and finish drinking."

"Is that what you guys are doing out there? And I wasn't invited?"

"Your house, didn't figure you needed an invitation." He shrugged his shoulders and looked down at the tray in his hands. "See you down there?"

"Yeah, I need a drink."

Madeline was glad that she'd chosen to get a table with six chairs for the patio. All of them were occupied by members of the club. "There she is!" Chibs called out.

"Hey guys, there any beer left?"

"I got it." Darren jumped up from his chair. "You can sit there if you want Maddy."

"She doesn't need permission to sit in one of her own chairs." Opie rolled his eye at the prospect. "Congratulations again Maddy."

"Thanks Op."

"My Ma and Eve still up there working out the details?" Jax smirked.

"I'm sure they'll tell me where to show up and what to wear." She told him as the prospect handed her a beer.

"Tara's excited, she's already talking about your bachelorette party which means we get to start planning Hap's bachelor party," the young president grinned widely. "Gonna be epic."

"I'm sure it will be." Madeline took a sip of her beer. "Just remember, I'm not bailing anyone out and if anyone shows up with a tattoo on their face like the guy in The Hangover, I will hurt them." She leaned back in the chair. "I should call Tara and check in; see where her head is at when it comes to the strippers."

"Strippers?" Happy spoke from behind her. "Fuck you want to watch naked chicks for?"

"Not chicks," she glanced over her shoulder. "Male strippers. Tall, muscled, sexy male strippers." Madeline sighed dramatically which drew laughter from everyone but Happy. He growled, but she knew that it was playful, and moved over to stand in front of her. "What?" She asked innocently.

"You are a devil." He reached out for her hand and pulled her to her feet so that he could sit. "Ma was okay?"

"Yeah, Tig was taking her up food and she and Gemma are still talking wedding. I decided I needed to drink to deal with that." Madeline settled down on his lap and laid her head on his shoulder. "I think they want you to wear a suit."

Opie burst out laughing but tried to cover it with up with a cough. It wasn't too successful and earned him a sharp glare from Happy. He gave the same glare to Madeline when she began to giggle. Then suddenly she couldn't stop laughing.

"Mad?" Happy eyed her as if she'd lost her mind. Perhaps she had because instead of giving him an answer she just continued to laugh. "Mad?" He repeated with just the slightest trace of concern.

"Sorry. Sorry." Madeline wiped at her leaking eyes. "I don't know what the hell is wrong with me." She took a long swallow from her bottle of beer. "But you've got to admit that the idea of you in a suit is just..."

"Wrong?" Happy questioned. "Yeah and don't worry, it ain't happening. I'll set them straight."

"Good," she told him. "I need some water. Anyone want one?"

"I'll get them," Darren offered and sprinted towards the house. She'd give the prospect credit, he was always eager.

Time passed quickly, it started to get dark and someone had the idea to throw some food on Madeline's grill. Lyla and Tara ended up showing up with the kids and soon it was very much like a party.

She kept having to show off her ring, Happy kept getting asked if he were sure this was what he wanted and every time he replied yes. It was a big of a surprise to him that he'd made the decision and he had to admit it was the best one that he'd ever made.

"You realize this is like your engagement party, right?" Tara questioned as she came over holding Thomas. "Here, take him. You should get some practice."

"We are not having kids anytime soon." Madeline assured her. She glanced around at everyone having a good time. "Well, this is better than some stuffy party with a sit down dinner."

"Mine was in the middle of the trashed club house, don't ask." Tara shook her head. "You already know that things around here don't always run smoothly so you've got to find time to celebrate the joy. Here, take him." The doctor repeated. "I could really use five minutes of me time."

"Only five minutes?" Madeline didn't miss the way that the woman looked at her husband. She took Thomas and settled him on her hip. "Take a little longer, I'll keep an eye on the little guy."

"Thank you." Tara took off to where Jax stood talking to Opie.

"Come on Thomas, let's go and see what everyone's doing." Madeline listened to him babble with a smile but the second that he started crying she really had no clue what to do with him. Panic flared inside of her. "Aren't you supposed to come with a bag or something?"

Happy watched with amusement and then an unsettled feeling in his stomach as Madeline carried Thomas around, even following her when she found his diaper bag and went to change him. She looked good with a kid, natural and between Thomas and Able she was eventually going to check baby fever. Maybe he should have told her that he didn't want kids, ever. Even with her. But she'd never mentioned wanting them.

"Hey Brother." Jax came over and slapped him on the back several times. "So happy for you, Madeline's a good girl."

"Yeah." Happy nodded.

"Me and Tara are gonna take the kids home, they're beat and so is she but I want to see your Old Lady on the yard tomorrow with her ink." Jax grinned widely. "Good luck with my mother. You're going to need it."

"Figured as much," Happy shook his head. "Shoulda just went to Vegas."

"Too late now Brother, too late."

"Tell her I'm heading inside to set up the table, tell her to get her forehead ready."

"Forehead?" Jax stopped dead in his tracks. It had been done before by other members of SOA but never in the mother charter.

Happy smirked and turned and walked away from the man without an answer. He set up in the kitchen, it had the best light and the table was sturdy enough for Madeline to stretch out on. It took him only a few minutes and when he looked over to the doorway she was standing there. "You ready Girl?"

"I'm ready." Madeline assured him even though the sight of the tattoo gun made her want to cringe. "How do you want me?"

He met her eyes and his low chuckle made her stomach flip. "Shirt off Mad, lay down on the table."

Madeline hadn't planned on stripping down to her bra but was glad she'd worn a decent looking one. Her heart hammered in her chest when she pulled her shirt off; nearly tripping over thin air in her hurry to get to the table.'

"Take it easy Mad, ain't no one gonna stare at you." He knew his brothers would look, they were only human but none would disrespect him by staring or making her uncomfortable. She settled down on the table and he ran his hand over her back softly. "Right here." He settled his hand on the spot between her shoulders and splayed out his hand.

"Okay." She turned her face towards him and smiled. "Am I going to be able to sleep on my back?"

"You never sleep on your back." He pointed out. "You sleep on me."

"You complaining Brother?" Tig asked from the door. "Because I would gladly volunteer to be your replacement." He pulled up a chair and sat down.

Madeline lifted her arm up and flipped Tig off. "In your dreams Tigger, in your dreams."

"You really wanna know about my dreams?" He asked. "Because I will tell you and it looks like we're going to be here a while."

"No," Happy and Madeline replied together.

10 10 10

"I can not believe this bitch." Tiffany Clarkson fumed as she watched the Sons of Anarchy gathered in Ms. Walkers yard. She looked over to Justin Ray. "Do you see this shit?"

"I see the guys that are going to beat my ass to death if they find out I'm the one who ratted on Ms. Walker." He replied. "Starting to think that I shouldn't have done it."

"Don't be a pussy." The girl snapped though it was probably impossible for him. "Look, they aren't going to tell who you are and even if they do it's not like they're going to beat a minor to death." Or at least she didn't think they would; if they did it wouldn't be such a huge loss to her. Boys like Justin were a dime a dozen. Men like the Sons, well they were a different story altogether. They were special and so were the women that they chose. She eyed the prospect, Darren, as he came out of the back door. He certainly wasn't her first choice or even her second but he'd do for now.

"Come on, let's get out of here before they see us." Justin grumbled and pulled up the hood of his sweatshirt. Honestly he just wanted to get away from the house and out of Charming for that matter. The hand job he'd gotten from Tiffany no longer seemed a fair trade for the fire he'd dropped his ass into.

"Yeah, let's go." Tiffany formulated a plan in her mind and smiled with satisfaction.

10 10 10

Madeline somehow managed to doze off with the needle moving in and out of her skin. The pain she feared had been brief and then Happy's repetative motions became almost soothing. Once the fear was gone so were her nerves. She simply laid there staring at her man and making random conversation with Tig.

After a while she just let her eyes close and was content to be lost in her thoughts. As much as she wanted to not think about her work situation it seemed to be at the front of her mind. "Relax." Happy's voice was a growl as his gloved finger poked her in the side. "Fuck you thinking about?"

"Nothing," she lied.

"Don't lie to me. Does it hurt?"

"No. I was just thinking about the lawyer."

"Why?" Happy questioned as he went back to work. He was nearly done and he had to say that he outdid himself. His dick was getting hard just looking at the crow spread in flight between her shoulder blades, his name was beneath it and it marked her forever as his even more so than the ring that he could see on her finger.

"She called before everyone got here. I think that she's a little pissed. I told her that we're engaged."

"Why would she be pissed about that?" He demanded.

"The morals clause in my contrast, says that marrying you will give them reason to say I violated it."

"Wanna call it off?" He asked gruffly. "I can scratch this whole tat out, no problem." Even as he said the words anger flared through him. Madeline let out a cry, the first sound she'd made since he started, as the needle bit into her flesh. "Fuck." He slammed the rig down on the table.

Madeline recognized the look on his face as he slid the stool he'd been perched on back. "Hap." She reached out for his hand.

"Need a break."

Tig had remained quiet this whole time. "I'll find you a beer Brother." He shut the kitchen door behind him as he left.

"You need a break from me or from the ink?" Madeline sat up and felt throbbing pain all over her upper back.

"What the fuck do you think?"

"I love you. That's what I think." She swung her legs off of the table. "I'll tell you like I told the lawyer, they can all kiss my ass if they think some stupid ass morals clause is going to change that. What's more moral than getting fucking married?"

"Not marrying a criminal." He replied. "This ain't the life you wanted."

"No, it's not but it's my life and I love it because you are what I want. You are who I want. You want to change your mind, change it. Tell me to get back on the table and black my fucking back out, take back the ring."

"Mad." He blew out a deep breath. "You know how I feel." It was all that he could say. He'd laid every single one of his cards out on the table earlier and here she was throwing the offer in his face to take it all back.

"And you know how I feel! So what the hell are we arguing about? I don't give a shit about that morals clause. I don't even give a shit about that job if it's put up against my relationship with you!"

"You love teaching."

"Yeah, I do. I can teach somewhere else if it comes down to that. My point is that there's no way that it matters to me more than you do." Madeline sighed. "I just can't help thinking about it and being pissed; pissed that a student I actually like is the one lying about me."

His onyx eyes snapped over to hers. "You know who went to the principal?"

"Yeah, Della told me. I should have told you as soon as I talked to her but everyone was so happy, I didn't want to ruin it."

"Who is he?"

"He's a kid Hap." Madeline sighed.

"He's a fucking punk, a liar! Got you into all of this shit!" He fumed as his hands tightened into fists. "Kid or not, you're telling me who it is right fucking now." There was no room for argument.

"Should I even bother to ask you to promise not to do anything?"

"What do you think?"

"If he disappears after she gave me the name, it's a world of shit for all of us Hap."

"Tell me." He took a step closer to her.

"His name is Justin Ray. He's a Senior. I've never had any problems with him." She reached out her hand. "Brains before bullets, right? Isn't that what the plaque in the Chapel says?"

"A bullet is too good for this fuck." Happy looked down at his girl, saw fear in her eyes and exhaled. "Relax, I ain't doing shit right now. Get your ass back on that table."

Madeline stretched up and kissed him. "Love you."

"Yeah, I know. Now back on the table."

She'd just got back into position when there was a loud knock on the front door. "Fucking cops." He pushed the stool back once more. "Stay here."

"How do you know that it's the cops?"

"Sheriff's Department! Open the door." A voice called out as the knock sounded again.

Happy shot her a small smirk. "I know cops Girl." He shook his head. "Ain't never going to finish this ink at this rate. Stay here, I'm going to go and see what they want."

"Should I put my shirt on?"

"Gonna fuck up the ink, just stay here." Happy strode out the kitchen door and walked through the living room. "Yeah?" He said in a disinterested tone.

"Got a report of public drinking and drug use at this address." Sheriff Eli Roosevelt managed to not look intimidated by the taller man.

"Must have been a prank call." Tig suggested.

"Maybe a neighbor pissed that they didn't get invited to this little get together." Kozik chimed in.

"Got a warrant?" Happy looked back at the Sheriff.

"Bet your ass I do. Stand aside." The man ordered.

"A warrant?" Madeline had crept to listen to the conversation at the kitchen door. "There has never been a complaint about noise or anything at this house and you show up with a warrant after one call? Are you shitting me?"

"I assure you, I am not shitting you." The man smiled slightly. "We're just going to take a look around. What's the harm in that if you've got nothing to hide?"

"This is bullshit." Madeline told him. "Do what you want because it's what you're going to do anyway." She adjusted the towel that she'd held over her breasts and stomach.

"You want to put a shirt on Ms. Walker?" Roosevelt questioned.

"I'll strip bare ass and walk around, you might have a warrant but this is my house." Madeline's temper had a short fuse these days and she knew it. She exhaled and tried to calm herself. With everything that had happened in the past few weeks, the invasion of the Sheriff's department had just pushed her over her own personal edge.

"Mad." Happy's voice was a warning as he shook his head. "Go in the kitchen, I'll wrap you up."

"Need everyone to stay where I can see that. Don't look at me like that Lowman or you'll all be on your knees with your hands behind your head. In case you all haven't realized it yet, I'm in charge of Charming."

"I've got something." One of the deputies walked in through the front door with a bag in his hand. "Found it in the backyard."

"Anyone care to claim this marijuana? Looks like it's almost an ounce, way more than what's allowed for personal or medical use." The Sheriff opened up and evidence bag and the deputy dropped it in. "Anyone?" He chuckled. "Didn't think so. Alright, tear this place apart. Let's see what else we."

"I'm supposed to believe that you just stumbled over that in the backyard?" Madeline let out a snort of annoyance. "This is bullshit."

"Mad." Happy shook his head again. He couldn't say that she was wrong about it being bullshit but he recognized the look in the Sheriff's eyes. The man was tired of being made to look stupid by the Sons so he was now out for anything that he could use against them.

"Listen to your Old Man." The Sheriff said dryly. "Now someone is going to tell me who this belongs to or I'm going to take you all in."

"It's mine." Madeline said before anyone else could speak. She heard Happy growl next to her and knew that her declaration hadn't pleased him but she also knew that she was the only one in the room with no record.

"Madeline Walker, you are under arrest for possession of marijuana." Roosevelt motioned for the deputy to step forward. "Make sure that she knows her rights."

"I want a lawyer. Oh wait, I've got a lawyer. Call her, Della Edmond." She looked over at Happy as the deputy stepped forward with his cuffs out.

"You're really going to cuff her for this shit?" Happy demanded of the Sheriff. "Worried that she can take your deputy down Roosevelt?" His body was practically vibrating with anger and he felt Chibs and Tig move to his back. No doubt they thought that he was going to do something stupid and the truth was, he was thinking about it. "Leave her the fuck out of this, that shit is mine."

"What in the world is going on here?" Eve spoke from hall. Gemma was at her side. "Oh, would you look at that Gemma? They found my weed."

Roosevelt let out a groan. "Am I seriously going to have to take the three of you in for this?"

"Take me too." Gemma cocked a hand on her hip.

"I'll go. Sounds fucking fun." Tig chuckled.

"Fuck it, I'm in." Kozik added.

"You people are seriously screwed up." The Sheriff told them.

"No, not screwed up Sheriff." Eve took several steps forward and it was obvious how frail she was. "Obviously they're all just scared that you're going to take a terminally ill woman into custody for the only thing that brings her comfort. Now, if you'd like to arrest me I suggest you do so because I've taken my night time pills, soon I'll be asleep."

"She's got a card." Gemma spoke up. "They give special consideration to people at the stage where they need hospice."

The Sheriff let out a loud sigh. "I'm confiscating this and I want to see that card."

"I'll get it." Happy growled the words and looked between his mother and his girl. Between the two of them, they were going to be the death of him. "Ma, get your ass back to bed. You know that you shouldn't be walking around." He looked over to Madeline.

She knew that she was in deep shit as he stalked down the hall with Eve. He returned a few moments later with the card. Sheriff Roosevelt didn't really have much to say once he saw the card with the special status that Eve had so recently achieved. "I'm sorry about your mother." He said shortly to Happy. "It's late. I suggest that you break up this gathering."

"Yeah, we'll take that under consideration." Tig said dryly as he rose to his feet and followed the police to the door and shut it behind them. "Well, it can't really be considered a party until the pigs show up."

"The fuck were you thinking?" Happy's hand shot out and grabbed Madeline's arm.

She sputtered off protests as he dragged her into the kitchen. "Jesus Hap, let me talk." She pleaded as he pressed her against the counter. "I'm the only person here without a record, except maybe Ma. It was just a little weed."

"You never do that shit again. He's after us for the club, he'd have made sure the charges were more than just a little fucking weed. How well do you think that you'd do in prison? Huh?" He tightened his grip on her arm.

"Better than I'd do if it was you on your third strike!" She told him. "Because if you go away Hap, I won't be able to take it. That's why I stepped up and said that it was mine."

"Anything ever happens to me, you'll be taken care of." He said gruffly but his anger was softening because he could understand what she had tried to do. Hell, it made him proud the way that she'd stood there and faced the Sheriff.

"I don't want to be taken care of, I want you." Madeline realized his anger was deflating. "Hap?"

"Yeah?"

"You're hurting my arm."

He released her and saw the angry red marks against her pale skin. "Do that shit again and I'll beat your ass, got it?"

"Got it?"

"The fuck am I going to do with you?" He shook his head as she tried to look ashamed. She failed miserably. "Get your ass on the table Girl."