Author's Note: I always do appreciate the reviews.
S-O-A-S-O-A-S-O-A
The next day, Ari walked out of the hospital after her shift and found Happy waiting for her in the parking lot. She smiled as she walked toward him. "Hi," she said, greeting him with a kiss. "Didn't expect to see you here."
"Thought you might want a ride," Happy replied, handing her a helmet.
Ari swung her leg over his bike and settled herself behind him. She leaned forward and spoke into his ear, her hands resting on his hips. "I'd love a ride," she said. "You up for it?"
Happy smirked. He started the bike with a roar. Happy reached back and slapped Ari's thigh, then peeled out of the hospital's parking lot. Ari let out a delighted laugh as they sped down the road, wind whipping through her hair. She was off from work for the next few days, there was a big party at the clubhouse tonight, and she and Happy officially lived together.
Ten minutes later, Happy pulled into the driveway. He killed the bike's engine and Ari got off, handing Happy her helmet. He carelessly swung it onto the handlebar before turning to Ari and picking her up so she was at his eye level. "Hap!" she said with a surprised giggle.
"Ride ain't free," he said with a wicked grin.
Ari kissed him soundly on the mouth. When she pulled back Happy hoisted her up further and she wrapped her legs around his waist. "Paid up?" she teased.
"No," Happy grunted.
Ari kissed and nibbled his neck. She let her teeth sink into his skin, and he pinched her ass in response. Ari licked the spot she had bitten. She lifted her head and gave him an open-mouthed kiss. Happy's tongue thrusted into her mouth and Ari made an encouraging sound. She wanted to feel him inside of her somewhere else, too.
She brought her hands to the back of his neck and her fingers began massaging his skin. "Hap," she said when she finally managed to tear her mouth away from his.
He looked at her and she smiled a slow smile. "We're gonna be late for the party."
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Ari was smiling as she and Happy climbed off his bike at the compound. Happy looked at her as she straightened her dress. The black material was short, strapless, and mostly backless. What little there was clung to her body. Happy ran a possessive hand down her back. "Can't believe I let you leave the house wearing that."
A pleased look came into Ari's eye. "You didn't the first time," she pointed out.
When Ari had gotten dressed at the house earlier, Happy had taken one look before shoving her back to the bed and getting her naked again. It was why they were the last to arrive at the clubhouse for the night's party.
Happy grinned at the memory, but his smile faded as they started to walk across the parking lot. "There's out-of-town charters here tonight," he reminded her.
Ari stopped walking and turned to face Happy. She put her arms around his waist, bumping his front with hers. "You know no one will try anything," she said. "Not when they know I'm with you."
Looking pleased at the reminder that no one would dare to mess with him, Happy patted Ari on the ass. She let go of him and he hooked his arm around her neck as they continued to walk towards the clubhouse. Upon entering, Ari was surprised to see how crowded it really was. She knew Tacoma and some of the other charters were visiting and that meant a big party, but she hadn't realized just how huge it would be.
Ari looked around for people she knew. She spotted Opie, Piney, Lyla, and Audrey near the bar and suppressed a smirk. She wondered if Opie knew he was going to have his hands full keeping an eye on Lyla's sister. Ari had found it hilarious that Audrey was a psychiatrist. What kind of shrink liked to party and sleep around so much? She vaguely remembered drunkenly asking Audrey that very question at Lyla's bachelorette party, and Audrey had said that was why she could truly understand some of her more troubled patients. A Friday night party at the clubhouse was going to be right up Audrey's alley.
Ari was about to point Opie and the others out to Happy, but he steered her towards Tig, Chibs, Lorca, and a few women she didn't know. Lorca smiled at their arrival. Happy let go of Ari so he could greet Lorca, and he nodded to one of the women, a redhead. "About time you got here," Chibs said. "What took so long?"
Tig eyed Ari's dress and raised his shot glass. "I know."
Happy ignored them, and so did Ari. She was distracted by the woman Happy had just acknowledged. How did he know her? "Hi Ari," Lorca said.
He put his arm around the redheaded woman. "This is my old lady Vanessa. Ness, this is Happy's nurse."
Relieved, Ari smiled. "Nice to meet you," she said.
Vanessa discreetly looked her up and down. "You too."
"You need a drink," Chibs said to Happy and Ari.
He called over to one of the bartenders and got a beer for Happy and a mixed drink for Ari. "Rum and Coke, right sweetheart?" he asked her with a wink.
Ari nodded, leaning against Happy. Chibs got the drinks and held them out to Tig to pass over. Tig, however, was fiddling with his phone. "Oy!" Chibs said loudly. "Tig!"
Tig looked up and passed Happy and Ari their drinks, glancing down the bar as he did so. Ignoring Tig's odd behavior, Happy and Lorca fell into conversation. Chibs was flirting with the women standing around Vanessa, Ari joining in their conversation every so often. She laughed at the outrageous stories he told the women, and he kept bringing all of them drinks.
After a little while, Happy rubbed the bare skin of her back. He bent down to whisper in her ear. "I'm gonna move. Be good."
She looked at him through her lashes. "I will," she said coyly.
He narrowed his eyes slightly at her tone before kissing her, hard. Then he and Tig disappeared into the crowd, Tig glancing down the bar again and slipping his phone into his pocket as they went. Ari was pleased. She liked that she and Happy were figuring out how to be at the clubhouse together, yet still able to spend time separately with their friends.
When Chibs handed her another drink, Ari knew it was time to go. She was already feeling pretty tipsy. "Chibs, you're going to get me drunk!" she exclaimed with a laugh.
She put her arm around his neck and kissed his cheek. "I'm gonna try and find Lyla or Tara. See you later."
Ari waved to Lorca and Vanessa, then started in the direction she had seen Lyla earlier. Before she got there, a hand on her arm stopped her. Ari looked up warily before she saw it was Tara. Ari relaxed. "Hey!" she said, giving Tara a hug.
"Hey," Tara said, looking slightly surprised at Ari's enthusiastic greeting.
"I was looking for you and Lyla!"
Tara took a sip of her beer. "I haven't seen Lyla."
"She's here with Audrey," Ari said, and Tara snickered.
Ari smirked too. "So what's up?" she asked Tara.
"Just enjoying a few hours away from the boys, and responsibilities."
Ari grinned. "This is a great place to go for that. Come on, let's go do something stupid."
Tara tucked a piece of hair behind her ear, glancing around furtively. "What?" Ari asked.
Tara reached into her pocket and took out two rolled joints. "Gemma gave these to me earlier. Said I looked like I needed it."
Ari laughed, linking her arm through Tara's. "Let's go outside for a smoke."
Ari and Tara made their way outside. There were two men fighting in the ring with a crowd of people around them. Ari and Tara stayed on the outskirts, not paying any attention to the fight. "Do you have a lighter?" Tara asked.
Ari laughed. "Shit. No. I don't really smoke."
"Well someone around here will," Tara said, handing Ari a joint and looking around.
Ari jumped when a hand came down on her shoulder, but at the sound of the voice accompanying it her tension dissipated. "You ladies need a light?" Kozik asked.
He handed Tara the lighter out of his pocket. Tara lit hers, then held it out for Ari. Ari leaned in, puffing as Tara lit her joint for her. Ari inhaled slowly, holding the smoke in as long as she could before exhaling just as slowly. "Why are you always here, Kozik?" Ari asked.
"I want to patch back over. Tig's being a little bitch about it, though."
"I thought things were better between you," Tara protested.
Kozik just shrugged. Ari patted Kozik's cheek. "Your natural charm's not winning him over?" she teased.
Kozik winked at Ari and Tara. "I save that for the ladies."
Tara snorted a laugh. Ari elbowed Kozik in the stomach and stepped away from him, his hand falling off her shoulder. "Kozik!" Happy barked from across the way.
Ari, Tara, and Kozik looked to the left and saw Happy, Tig, and Juice a short distance away. Ari didn't know how long Happy had been watching them. "We're next," Happy said to Kozik, jerking his head towards the ring where the current fight was coming to an end.
Kozik grinned. "You're on!"
Happy turned and walked away. Tig glared at Kozik and Juice looked nervous, and then they followed Happy. Kozik, however, still had a grin plastered on his face. "Why are you smiling? Why are you and Happy going to fight?" Ari wanted to know.
"For fun," Kozik said before turning and walking away.
Tara shook her head, looking unsure. "Happy and Kozik are friends, right?"
Ari brought her joint to her mouth and inhaled before responding. "Yeah," she said. "Kozik likes to flirt with me to rile Happy up. He thinks it's funny."
Tara raised her eyebrows. "You go along with it?"
A secretive smile spread across Ari's face. "Sure. I like to see his reaction."
Tara let out a nervous laugh. "Are you telling me you don't think it's hot when Jax gets possessive over you?" Ari asked.
Tara considered. "Jax isn't a jealous guy. He trusts me."
Ari put a hand on her hip. "It's not about trust, Happy's just...proprietary. I think it's hot."
Ari dropped the end of her joint on the ground, putting it out with her shoe. "Come on," she said. "Let's get closer to watch the fight."
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A relatively short time later the fight between Happy and Kozik was over, with Happy coming out the winner of the match. Ari had stood next to Tara – and Jax, who had spotted them and wandered over – and watched, biting her lower lip all the while. Both Kozik and Happy had stripped down to just their jeans. Ari could admit Kozik was in great shape, but it was Happy she couldn't take her eyes off of.
He was lean, with no visible fat on him. His entire upper body was covered in colorful ink. He moved with a kind of threatening swagger that Ari always found sexy. And he was fighting to reiterate to everyone that she was his, something that Ari was realizing really turned her on.
Chibs broke up the fight and raised Happy's hand in the air. Kozik's mouth was bleeding, but he was smiling. Happy's face was stoic but Ari could see the hint of pride and pleasure he took from winning. "See you later," Ari said to Tara and Jax, and she began shoving her way through the crowd to reach Happy's side.
Someone tossed each of the men a towel and Kozik held his to his face to staunch the bleeding. Happy tossed his around his neck. Happy caught sight of Ari approaching and watched as she brushed past the bleeding Kozik, completely ignoring him. Ari reached Happy, took hold of the ends of the towel, and used it to pull him close. Happy's hands drifted down her back to grip her ass as she kissed him enthusiastically. She could taste the alcohol on his breath and realized she wasn't the only one who had been drinking heavily this evening.
Happy moved his mouth from Ari's lips to her ear. "You taste like weed," he said in a low voice.
"'Cause I smoked some," she managed to say before Happy's mouth claimed hers again.
There was cheering and catcalling from the people standing around them, and when Tig yelled out a particularly obscene suggestion, Happy turned away from Ari to threaten him into shutting up. Lyla and Audrey came over, giving Ari hugs in greeting. "I was looking for you earlier!" Ari exclaimed.
She was distracted when Happy - who was still bare-chested - pulled her into his side. Ari smiled at the feel of his hot, naked skin against her arm. She ran a hand lightly up his chest. Ari's eyes narrowed slightly when she saw Audrey looking at Happy appreciatively; she saw Tig had also noticed Audrey staring. Audrey, as if she felt Ari's glare, looked over and attempted to give Ari an innocent look, but couldn't quite pull it off.
Lyla seemed oblivious to her sister's staring. Tig's eyes narrowed slightly before he turned to Happy. "C'mon," Tig said. "Let's do some shots to celebrate kicking Kozik's ass."
He jerked his head towards Ari. "You come too."
Ari waved to Lyla and Audrey over her shoulder as Happy followed Tig, pulling her along with him. Happy didn't seem to want to let go of her, and Ari was only too happy to comply.
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The next morning, Ari woke up before Happy did. They had both passed out naked on his bed in his dorm room. Ari stretched, pleased that she wasn't feeling too hungover. She decided she needed coffee. Not wanting to put her tiny black dress back on, Ari put on panties and one of Happy's t-shirts instead.
She crept out of the room and quietly closed the door behind her. Ari padded to the kitchen and, as she got closer, was elated to realize she already smelled coffee brewing. Kozik was sitting on a stool with a cup of coffee in his hand. "You're up early," Ari commented as she poured herself a cup.
Kozik groaned. "I know. Don't fucking ask. I fucking hate mornings."
In the sober light of day, Ari noticed Kozik had a bruise on his cheekbone and a cut on his mouth. "You doing okay?"
Kozik saw her inspecting the evidence of Happy's handiwork on his face. He nodded. "'Course. You and Hap seemed pretty happy last night," he commented.
Happy and Ari were usually not demonstrative with each other in public, but they had been last night. Kozik figured they both must have been drunk. Ari smiled and said simply, "Yeah."
She poured another cup of coffee to bring to Happy and said goodbye to Kozik. Happy was awake when she opened the door to his room. He was sitting up in bed, his back against the wall, and smoking a cigarette.
Ari smiled at him when he looked at her and handed him a cup of coffee. "Why are you dressed like that when there's people out there?" he asked her, taking the coffee cup and placing it on the little table beside the bed.
Ari looked down at the shirt she was wearing. It covered her to mid-thigh. "It covers more of me than the dress I wore last night," Ari commented, unfazed.
She set her coffee next to Happy's and climbed into bed. Ari looked at Happy's expression and felt the same excitement she felt last night. She liked it when Happy was possessive over her. She considered it to be his way of showing he cared.
Ari was on her side facing Happy. He put his cigarette in the ashtray and then put his hands on her hips. He guided her so that she was straddling his lap and brought his hand to the back of her head, kissing her roughly. He moved his mouth to her neck, sucking on a sensitive spot there. "You smell good," he said, his voice muffled by her skin.
Ari let out a throaty chuckle. "I smell like sex - and you."
She felt Happy's lips curve before he continued his assault on her neck. After a moment he lifted his head, satisfied with his efforts. He looked at Ari. She was perched on his lap, her bare legs around his hips, wearing his shirt, with his mark on her throat. Happy's eyes glinted appreciatively. He thought she looked good right now.
Her bright blue eyes locked on his dark ones. "What?" she asked.
Happy didn't answer, just continued to keep his intense gaze focused on her. Ari started tracing the ink on his arms and chest with her fingers. She kept her eyes on his as her hands glided over his skin. Soon her lips began to follow her fingers. At first her mouth simply ghosted over his ink but then her kisses became more firm.
Ari pressed wet, open kisses across his chest. "You're so sexy," she said, right before her tongue circled his nipple.
Happy continued to sit back and enjoy Ari's attention. She stroked and kissed him, murmuring about how sexy he was and how much he turned her on. Happy didn't mind that she always liked to talk to him. Ari told him every detail of her days, she told him who she liked and what she thought about people they knew, and she told him what turned her on. She never seemed to mind that he didn't reciprocate with the verbal sharing, and he liked that he didn't usually have to prompt her for information. He wanted her to tell him everything in case he had to take care of something for her, but he didn't want to have to ask.
Ari kissed, licked, and nipped her way down his body until her hands gripped the base of his cock and her mouth engulfed him. Half of Happy's mouth lifted in a smirk. His girl wasn't hesitant. He closed his eyes for a moment when the tip of his cock hit the back of Ari's throat. He'd received more skillful blowjobs, but something about having Ari's lips wrapped around his dick always seemed to feel especially good.
Happy watched Ari's head bobbing. "I'm close," he warned her after another minute.
Ari looked up as she deep-throated him and gave a little moan. She swallowed when he came in her mouth with a grunt. Ari removed his cock from her mouth with a loud pop but then sucked the softening organ one last time, cleaning it. Happy didn't move when Ari got out of bed to rinse her moth.
When she re-entered the room she stripped and climbed back into bed. Happy was still sitting up and he pulled Ari into his lap again. He put his hand between her legs and encountered a slight wetness. Happy grinned as his fingers started playing with her. "It turn you on to suck my cock, Aria?" he asked.
"You turn me on," she replied, shifting restlessly as his fingers continued to tease her clit.
Pleased with her response, Happy fingered her with one hand and used the other to knead and squeeze her breasts. As Happy continued to touch her, Ari's breathing became heavier. She squirmed and pressed against his hand. "More, Hap, please," she said.
Happy withdrew his fingers and ran his hand along the inside of her thigh. "Don't rush me," he growled.
His hands touched her soft skin. Happy stroked the inside of her thighs. He cupped her breast and thumbed its nipple. He touched her everywhere except where she wanted to be touched. Ari couldn't take it. She was close to coming, teetering on the edge, but she needed Happy to quit torturing her. "Please," she risked begging again.
Happy's eyes flashed, and Ari shivered in anticipation. His hands were rough when he gripped her hips and turned her facedown on the bed. Without saying a word he began spanking her. Ari cried out but when Happy paused she lifted her hips a little bit, pushing her ass into his hand. Happy's dick started to harden again. "Dirty girl," he rasped.
He smacked her ass again and could make out his handprint on her skin. Ari moaned, the sound slightly muffled as her face was pressed into the mattress. Happy decided to stop tormenting her. He reached down and put two fingers inside of her, moving them in and out quickly. Almost immediately he felt Ari's pussy squeeze his digits as she came, whimpering and bucking her hips.
Happy withdrew his fingers and slowly dragged his hand over Ari's body. "Get on your knees," he ordered her after a moment.
Ari did as he said. Happy also got to his knees and pulled Ari against him so her back was pressed against his chest. Ari used her hand to guide his cock inside of her. She twisted her head so she could kiss Happy as he started thrusting into her. He was moving in and out very slowly, as if he knew that would drive her crazy. Ari moaned into his mouth, rubbing her tongue against his.
One of Happy's hands cupped and squeezed her breast, and the tempo of his thrusting increased. Ari broke their kiss so that she could breathe. She took short, shallow breaths as she ground her hips against Happy, causing him to mutter, "Fuck!" between gritted teeth.
Ari screamed his name as she came for a second time. Her inner muscles squeezing his cock made Happy come as well. He pulled out of Ari when he was done and flopped back onto the bed. Ari lay down next to him.
She stared at the ceiling, still breathing heavily. "Shit," she said after a moment. "We're at the clubhouse. I shouldn't have been so loud!"
Happy didn't say anything, but Ari's comment reminded him that she wasn't a club girl. No matter how familiar she might be with Lyla or Chibs, no matter that she was learning the club rules, she was still his Aria. The one who had been able to bring a smile to his mother's face; who thought he didn't know she kept a gun on her the entire first year she was his mother's nurse; the one who had secrets she still hadn't told him but would sometimes reveal themselves unexpectedly, like when he learned she was a good shot and had killed a man.
Ari propped herself up so she could look at him. His eyes were closed and he had a smirk on his face. "You don't have to look so pleased with yourself," she informed him.
One of his eyes cracked open. "Can't help it that you're a little slut for me."
Though she probably should have been outraged at Happy's words, Ari found herself fighting the urge to giggle. No one would ever have considered her to be a slut before Happy. Still, she feigned hurt. "Hap! I am not a slut!" she exclaimed, poking him in the shoulder.
Happy's other eye opened, the smirk still on his face. "'S'okay babe," he said, voice raspy, running a hand down her back. "You're my slut."
He pinched her ass, causing Ari to yelp, and his smirk turned into a full-blown grin.
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Later that week, Happy and Ari went to Clay and Gemma's for one of Gemma's dinners. Club members, their families, or - if a member didn't have family - his favorite girl were invited. Neither Ari nor Happy had strong feelings either way about these dinners.
Jax was holding Thomas when they entered the house, and Ari had to smile. Jax was still enamored with his new son. Abel ran over when he spotted Ari. "'Ri! 'Ri!" he called as he ran over.
He skidded to a halt when he saw Happy standing next to Ari, his arm around her shoulders. Suddenly looking bashful, Abel looked at the floor and peeked up at Ari. "Hap's scarin' your kid, Jackie," came Chibs' booming voice.
Chibs, of course, knew Abel usually wasn't shy around Ari. Jax looked over and shook his head, and Clay and Gemma came over to the group by the door. "C'mon, son, toughen up," Clay said to Abel.
Ari handed the plate of cookies she'd brought to Gemma and took a step away from Happy. She crouched down in front of Abel and held out her arms. "Come here little man," she encouraged him.
Abel smiled and went into her arms, letting her pick him up. She gave him a kiss. "Look how big you've gotten since the last time I saw you!"
"I bigger than Baby," Abel bragged.
Ari gave him another kiss. "Yes, you're bigger than Thomas," she agreed. "He's just a baby. You're a big boy."
Abel grinned smugly at Happy over Ari's shoulder. Clay and Chibs saw the look Abel gave Happy and they both laughed. "Looks like he knows who's been hogging your attention lately," Chibs chuckled.
"She's good with him," Tara said, coming over to greet Ari and Happy.
Clay caught Ari's eye. "You want kids?" he asked.
"God no," Ari said immediately.
Happy's expression remained stoic but Clay, Chibs, Gemma, and Tara looked surprised. "Really?" Gemma asked, daring to glance at Happy to see his reaction.
"Yes," Ari replied firmly.
Tara was also looking at Happy, but he was ignoring both her and Gemma. Ari changed the subject. "Gemma, do you want me to take that to the kitchen?" Ari asked, gesturing toward the plate of cookies.
"No, I'll take it," Gemma said.
Ari turned to look at Happy. "You want a beer?"
He gave her a nod. Abel wrapped his arms around Ari's neck. "Me too," he said.
Ari laughed. "You want a beer too?"
She cast a teasing look at Chibs over her shoulder. "I don't know, I think Uncle Chibs might have drank them all."
He raised a bottle. "Working on it."
Ari went to the kitchen, Abel on her hip, and opened the refridgerator to get a beer for Happy. "So is it you that don't want kids, or is it the kil - Happy?" Gemma corrected herself, since Abel was right there.
Ari grabbed a beer and closed the refridgerator door. "Why are you asking me about this, Gemma?" she asked.
Ari and Happy had never talked about kids. Ari was sure Happy didn't want any, which was fine with her - she didn't either. Tara, Lyla, and the other two women in the kitchen wisely kept their eyes on the food, staying out of the conversation. Gemma opened her mouth to say something else but Ari put Abel down and left to give Happy his beer.
Ari could feel Gemma's glare as she walked towards Happy. He was sitting in a recliner and Ari perched on the arm after handing Happy his beer. "Hey," Happy said, wrapping an arm around her waist and pulling her body closer to his.
He brought his mouth to her ear. "You good?" he asked.
Ari shivered at the feel of his breath on her ear, and half of Happy's mouth lifted in a smirk. Instead of saying anything in answer to his question, she just nodded.
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When Ari walked away, Gemma watched as she brought Happy his beer. Ari sat on the arm of the chair and Happy put his arm around her. He whispered something to her and Ari nodded, her cheek brushing his face. Gemma still sometimes found it disconcerting to see Happy and Ari interact. She was certain she had never seen Happy softly talk to any woman before, or even seem to want one to hang around him.
Ari stood and Happy patted her ass before Ari began to head back to the kitchen. Gemma hurried to look away but after she set the casserole in her hands on the table, she couldn't help glancing over again - only to find Happy looking directly at her. He didn't look mad or seem overtly threatening, but his intensity was focused on Gemma and she pressed her lips together almost nervously.
Gemma refused to admit she was afraid of anyone, especially a member of her own club. But Happy was different. He had an aura that warned not to mess with him. Clay had put Happy on bodyguard duty for Gemma twice and he was the only Son that Gemma hadn't been able to ditch. Tig, Juice, Chibs, a prospect - when they were on "Gemma duty", as Tig called it, she was able to lose them when she wanted to. Men had always been easy for her to manipulate. Happy was the only exception. He never said much to her and his expression never revealed anything but she would feel his eyes on her, sense him silently coming up behind her. He was impossible to shake. Clay loved it, but Gemma had made it clear she didn't like Happy looking after her, and so Clay rarely asked him to anymore.
Gemma gave Happy a slight nod before slowly turning away, and after a moment she didn't feel his eyes on her anymore. The tension Gemma hadn't even been aware of carrying left her body. She had received Happy's message loud and clear: back off. Whether he meant the personal questions or Ari in general, Gemma didn't know. But she remembered what Clay had told her a week after they discovered Ari and Happy had a history.
~*~*F*~L*~A*~S*~H*~B*~A*~C*~K*~*~
"Heard back from Tacoma," Clay told Gemma as she placed a cup of coffee in front of him.
It was morning, and they were having breakfast at home before heading in to work at Teller-Morrow. Once it had been made known that Happy and Ari had a history, Gemma had made it her mission to find out as much as she could. She had always liked Ari in a distant sort of way. The girl had seemed trustworthy, was good with Abel and Thomas, had useful medical skills, and wasn't after Jax or Clay. Beyond that, Gemma hadn't given her much thought.
But now things were different. It didn't sit well with Gemma that Ari had kept her connection to Happy a secret. Gemma didn't quite understand what the relationship between the two of them was - and if there was one thing Gemma Teller Morrow hated, it was being ignorant of the goings-on within her own club. Gemma had learned some things from speaking with Ari herself, with Tara, with Lyla, and she had happened to overhear Kozik and Donut telling stories about Happy and Ari being shot at, and Ari getting into it with some girl at the Tacoma clubhouse. The spiky-haired blonde biker, especially, seemed to know all about Ari.
But Gemma - and Clay, once she explained to him that it was necessary - wanted to know more. Gemma didn't know a lot about Happy but she had thought that was because there wasn't much to know. Apparently there was, though according to Ari he didn't like to share anything about himself.
Gemma raised an eyebrow at Clay's nonchalant statement, making sure not to seem too eager. "Yeah? What'd they say?"
Clay took a drink of his coffee. "Nothing too interesting. First time they met her was when she was out ridin' bitch with Hap and a Mayan took a shot at 'em. Hap killed him and some of the guys went out to help him get rid of the body . They get out there to find Ari pointing a gun at them. They all thought she would have shot 'em if they hadn't been wearing their cuts."
Clay sounded impressed. "Then Hap comes over and they're gonna get rid of the body, only our little Ari tells them Happy was shot."
Gemma shook her head in disbelief. "Yeah," Clay agreed. "Guys said Hap was pissed the little bitch made him seem weak. She didn't care, was real worried about him. He took her to the clubhouse with him while they buried the body and that's when the club met her. Kozik already knew her but the others had never seen her before. Said Hap never said she was his old lady but he kept her right by him the whole time they're there."
Gemma knew what that meant. It meant Happy was letting the others know Ari was his. "Anyway, she patched up Hap's bullet wound and I guess they had some trouble getting medical help for awhile, because they kept trying to get Happy to use her for the club," Clay continued.
"Trying?" Gemma interrupted.
Clay raised his eyebrows. "Yeah. Guess he brought her by once or twice to help out but then he wouldn't anymore. Said he needed her to spend all her time with his sick mother. Then he moved her and the mom to Bakersfield, and none of them ever saw her again. But she was definitely still around. Took care of the mom until she died."
Gemma sat back, turning Clay's words over in her head. "We know why he wants to keep her separate from the club?" Gemma finally asked.
Clay shrugged. "You tell me. She seem off when you first got to know her? Have a problem with our...business?"
Gemma shook her head once. "No. She was fine with the club. Didn't ask questions but wasn't afraid. Didn't try and get Tara away or anything."
Gemma pursed her lips in thought. "What?" Clay asked.
"Sounds like it was the killer who didn't want her around us. You don't know why?"
Clay took another drink of coffee. "No. But Happy keeps his shit tight. I don't ask, he don't tell, but it works. He's unflappable, always ready to take care of business. He's known this chick five years but that's never changed."
Gemma wrapped her hands around her coffee cup. "So what do you think?" she asked, sensing Clay had already made up his mind.
"I think we're good."
Gemma pursed her lips slightly and Clay pointed a finger at her. "Don't you go messing with him. If he wants to keep her to himself, then let him. He's earned himself some pussy. We need him. You got me?"
"Sure baby," Gemma said. "I got you."
When Ari re-entered the kitchen Gemma didn't ask her any more questions, for which Ari was glad. Happy and Ari's personal lives were none of Gemma's business. Ari liked other people's children just fine. She had babysat for Abel and Thomas a lot while Jax was in prison and Tara needed the extra help, and she adored Abel.
However, having children of your own was a big commitment that Ari didn't want to make. She was also afraid to bring a child into the type of life she had. What if the Moretti's found her again? Families like theirs never forgot. It could take fifty years but if they found Ari and discovered she had a child, they could go after it. Or if, by the time they picked up Ari's trail, she was dead but her child survived, they would exact their revenge on the child instead. It wouldn't matter to them.
Ari didn't want to deal with any of that, and so she had known for years that she would never have kids. It wouldn't be fair to the child. "Ari, can you bring this to the table?" Lyla asked, interrupting Ari's thoughts.
"Sure," Ari responded, taking the large bowl of vegetables Lyla handed her.
Gemma, Ari, Tara, Lyla, and the other women finished preparing dinner and put it all out on the table. Gemma told Clay dinner was ready and everyone wandered over to the table to sit down, the kids at a smaller table off to the side. Ari found herself sitting between Happy and Tig and across from Lyla.
Everyone began to pass the food around, different conversations happening around the table, and the room became noisy with dishes clinking, voices chattering, and the sound of laughter. Ari looked around. Happy was by her side and the people she had come to consider friends were surrounding her. She hadn't felt like a part of a big family like this for such a long time.
Ari didn't know what she would do if the Moretti's found her again.