"Where are we going?" Perry called over Happy's shoulder as they pulled out of the lot.

"You'll see." He answered.

"You're a man of mystery aren't you?" She said.

He didn't answer and just smirked back at her.

After riding for nearly three hours he pulled his bike to a stop in the parking lot of what looked like a nursing home.

"Where are we and what are we doing here?" Perry asked as she got off.

"Rosewood Nursing Home Bakersfield."

"And why are we here?" She asked again.

"I want you to meet someone."

She noticed that he seemed nervous, a trait that she had never seen in him. They headed inside and to the front desk and she was surprised when the receptionist addressed him by name.

"Hi Mr. Lowman. She's just returned to her room after lunch so she'll probably be ready to take a walk soon." She said as Happy signed a patient visitor sheet.

"This is Perry," He rasped. "She'll be visiting with me today."

"Sure. Can I get you to sign in too please Perry?" the receptionist asked politely.

Perry looked at the top of the visitors log she was signing and saw the patient name; Maria Lowman. Nearly every signature was Happy's or another person whose name she didn't recognize.

"Your mother?" Perry asked as she followed Happy down the corridor.

"Yeah." He answered shortly as he rounded the corner before entering a small room, brightly lit by sunshine pouring in the open window.

"Hey Ma." He greeted the small elderly lady sitting in an armchair by the window. He crossed the room toward her and leant down to kiss her cheek.

"Happy, my dear boy. How are you?" She asked in a voice that was strong for her frail frame.

"I'm good Ma. I brought someone else here to see you. This is Perry."

"Well hello Perry." She said with an element of surprise in her voice.

"Hello Mrs. Lowman. It's a pleasure to meet you."

"Please dear call me Maria. I haven't been married to that asshole for near thirty years."

Perry couldn't help but chuckle and noticed the briefest smile turn the corner of Happy's mouth up at his mother's words.

"Very well. It's a pleasure to meet you Maria."

"And you too dear. How do you know my Happy?"

"Oh well we um …" Perry was lost for words as to how to explain her relationship with Happy to his mother.

"We've been seeing each other for a while Ma." Happy answered for her.

"Well you must be something for my Happy to keep you around dear. I'd like to take a walk through the gardens now Happy."

"Sure Ma. Where's your frame?"

"I told them to take it away. I don't need that blasted thing."

Happy sighed. "Ma you need to start listening to them." He said taking her elbow and helping her to her feet.

"Nonsense Happy. I'll be going home soon." She said as he led her to the door.

"Okay Ma." Happy said. Perry saw the sorrowful look sweep across his face briefly. She followed behind them as they stepped out into the gardens of the nursing home.

"Perry dear, come walk beside me dear. Tell me of yourself. Where do you work?"

"I'm a corrections officer at Stockton State."

"Oh." Maria said in surprise. "You didn't meet Happy while he was in there recently did you?"

Perry smiled. "No. I'm most often on the women's side of the prison. Happy and I met after he got out."

"It's still somewhat a conflict of interest isn't it?" She asked.

"Not really Ma. It's not like she's a cop."

They continued to talk as they walked slowly around the garden and it wasn't long before Maria began to grow tired.

"I'd like to go back inside now Happy." She said.

"Okay Ma." He said turning to head back inside and to her room where he helped her into her bed.

"I'll come by again next week okay Ma?" He said once he'd made her comfortable against her pillows.

"Of course Happy and bring Perry back with you. I like her."

Perry smiled from where she stood in the doorway.

"I will Ma. I have to go now but you rest okay?"

"I will Happy. I love you."

"Love you too Ma." He said kissing her cheek before he turned to the doorway where he took hold of Perry's hand and led her outside.

"She's not going to be going home any time soon is she?" Perry asked as they neared his bike.

"Nah, probably not at all. She's stubborn and refuses to acknowledge how sick she really is."

"What's she got?" She asked.

"Breast cancer. They told me last week that it's spread to bone."

"Shit Hap. I'm sorry to hear that."

"I wanted her to meet you. So that, you know, she could see that I've got someone."

"Got someone hey?" She smiled running her hand down his arm. "What does that mean Happy Lowman?"

"It means I care about you okay?" He said as he threw his leg over his bike.

"Okay." She said with a smirk.

"Get on already will ya?" He said, the moment passing and his gruff exterior returning.

Perry smiled to herself as she sat behind him as they tore down the highway out of Bakersfield and back towards Charming. She was surprised at how much she was beginning to like the man she rode behind. It was more than just sex and protection now especially since he admitted out loud that he cared about her. He wasn't the type of man she had ever pictured herself becoming involved with. She knew she was far from being his old lady and she wasn't sure that she even wanted to be but his words before had made her feel for the first time that perhaps they could develop into something beyond what they currently were.

They had just pulled up in the lot when a police squad car rolled through the gate immediately catching the attention of the guys that were lounging outside at the tables.

"To what do we owe the pleasure Lieutenant?" Jax asked his voice laced with sarcasm as Roosevelt walked toward the group of outlaw bikers.

Happy noticed Perry growing nervous beside him. "It's okay babe. He shows up here to try to rattle us every so often." He said quietly as he led her toward the others.

"I'm here to take Happy Lowman down to the station."

"Yer what?" Chibs said rising from his seat.

Roosevelt turned toward Happy and Perry as they approached. "Happy you need to come with me."

"Why?" Happy rasped beside Perry who gripped tightly to his hand.

"You're under arrest for the assault of Nikolai Romanov." Roosevelt said pulling cuffs from his belt loop and walking across to Happy.

"But he …" Perry began.

"We'll sort it babe." Happy interrupted her silencing her with his eyes as he let Roosevelt cuff him and lead him over to the squad car, reading him his rights as they walked.

"Gentlemen." Roosevelt said by way of a farewell as he got back in and drove out of the lot.

"What the fuck did he do?" Clay asked his eyes drilling into Perry accusingly.

"I … I don't know. Nik was there at my house this morning when we went to get some of my things. Happy told me to wait outside so I didn't see what happened." Perry stumbled.

"Jesus Christ." Clay muttered as he headed toward the clubhouse door. "Call Lowen." He barked to anyone who was listening.

"Don't worry Perry, we'll figure out a way to get him off." Jax said reassuringly.

"Clay blames me for this doesn't he?" She asked of no one in particular.

"Don't worry about him. He'll go lock himself in the chapel and cool off." Opie said.


Several days later …

"Where you been Miss?" Rodriguez asked as she neared Perry's desk.

"Personal leave Rodriguez." Perry answered without looking up from the computer screen in front of her. She knew the woman was no threat. She was one of the more docile of inmates on Perry's watch.

"What happened to your eye Miss?" Rodriguez continued.

Perry looked up knowing that despite her best efforts there was still a slight mark of purple bruising around her eye. "I ran into a door." She answered.

Rodriguez raised one eyebrow, "I'm guessing that door throws some wicked punches, eh?" She said with a smile.

Perry couldn't help but smile back. "Get back to your cell Rodriguez. It's nearly lights out."

Perry sighed as she rose from the desk to lock all the cell doors for the night. Her first shift back had passed with no event just as she had assured Happy it would when she had visited him yesterday. He had been held in custody pending a trial. Being that he had been out on parole he hadn't made bail. The only chance he had of getting off was if Nikolai would drop the charges. Being that the club couldn't risk anymore threats and neither would they let Perry near him to try to convince him to Happy's chances of getting off weren't good. He was looking at a minimum of 12 months inside.

"You're looking a little worse for wear." Moser said when he arrived as Perry's relief a short time later.

"It's been an interesting few weeks." Perry answered.

"So how about that drink sometime and you can tell me about it?" He asked.

Perry breathed out with a sigh. She had forgotten that Moser had asked her out after her last shift before her forced personal leave. She hadn't the slightest interest in him, but in being polite she had said she think about it. So much had happened since then.

"Sorry, but I've actually started seeing someone." Perry answered him.

"Oh well okay then." He said giving rise to an awkward silence.

Perry gave him a smile as she left.

Tig was waiting for her when she stepped outside. "I don't suppose there's been any word on Hap?" She asked.

"Nah." He said as he walked her to her car feeling just a tad guilty for checking out her ass. He had to give it to Happy. She was smoking hot and especially in that uniform. Christ he knew he'd have her keep it on if she were his old lady.

"Tig?" She asked turning around when they reached her car. "Could you trust me on something?"

"What Perry?" he asked knowing what a handful she could be even for Happy.

"I'm going to my house to try to convince Nikolai to drop the charges against Happy."

"Perry you know that's not a good idea."

"It's the only chance he has and you know it. The only reason I'm telling you is because I'm not stupid enough to do it without a tail."

"Happy will kill me if anything happens to you."

"I'll make sure that nothing does. Please Tig could you follow me?" She asked.

Tig closed his eyes and ran his hand through his hair looking as if he was grappling with his decision.

"Okay Perry. I'll follow you but know that if anything happens to you I'll more than likely end up inside too."

Perry smiled a small smile. "Thanks Tiggy."


A/N: Apologies for any typos in this update. Please review and let me know what you think!