I woke up when I heard the door opening and feet shuffling. I opened my eyes and saw Maria putting a gym bag on top of the night stand next to me.

"Sorry Carino, didn't mean to wake you up" she whispered quietly pointing at Happy who was still sleeping. I nodded my head and slowly untangled myself from Happy's arms.

"How have you been?" I asked Maria as I closed the door behind me

"I've been fine" I gave her a look. She was always trying to be strong. " I have been good, a bit queasy but better than before" she said. I wrapped my arms around her shoulder as we walked towards the bar area. The girls looked to be working still. A couple of girls putting 2 tables together and from the looks of it setting the tables for dinner.

"Hey Kim" I said as Maria and I walked into the kitchen. "Need any help?" I asked. She nodded her head. Kim and Annie, a blond short woman, finished making 2 lasagna, while 2 other girls cut vegetables for a salad and another girl was making an apple pie. Maria and I made a peach cobbler when she mentioned it was Happy's favorite.

"Is there only lasagna for dinner?" I asked Kim once everything was in the oven. She nodded her head .

"Yes, I can make something else if you like" she said.

"No, its fine, I will keep an eye on the food if you guys need to go check in your kids" they all left and I walked to the fridge and pulled out chicken.

"You do not like lasagna ?" Maria asked

"I love Italian food" I said smiling to her "but its very fatty and it could make you sick"

"No, please do not cook for me. I will stick to salad"

"Maria, salad is not enough. I will make a couple of pieces of chicken. It will be quick and if you do not think you can handle it you can stick with just the salad"

"Ah Mija, you do not have to worry about me" I put the chicken down and walked to her. "Maria, I care about you" she was about to interrupt me so I shook my head

"You have been so wonderful to me since we meet. So kind and a great listener. You really got me though a few hard days. And I know I have been busy lately and we have not had much of a chance to talk. And I just want you to know how important you are to me. So please let me help you, because I know you would do the same if you were in my shoes. Would you not?

"Porsupuesto que si"

"Then please let me help you" she slowly nodded her head.

"I knew you would be wonderful for my boy" we were interrupted when we heard a throat clearing.

"Hey" Happy greeted us looking between the both of us.

"Hey babe, sleep well?" I asked walking to him and giving him a quick kiss. I felt him nod and walked back to the stove. While I prepared the chicken I could hear Happy and Maria talk. Happy asking her how she was feeling, how was chemo and letting her know that she would be sleeping with us in the room. After a few minutes he left saying he was going to check in with the guys.

30 minutes later the lasagna was done and the girls carried it, the salad, dinner rolls, outside to the tables. A few minutes later Gemma came into the room yelling out that dinner was ready. The guys started walking in and sitting around the two tables started serving themselves. I came out with the plate for Maria with the chicken.

"I See that the lasagna was not good enough for you" said Gemma eyeing my plate. I simply smiled and walked to the table sitting next to Maria. She looked confused looking between Gemma and me. I shrugged my shoulders and placed the plate in front of her.

"Sorry we were running Late" said Tara coming in with two small boys and Lyla with 3 bigger kids behind them were Jax and Opie. I gave them all a small wave. They all sat down and started serving themselves.

"Gemma the lasagna is delicious as always" Tig said after a few bites. All of the guys agreed with him.

"Yeah Gemma, thank for remembering I like extra olives in the salad" Said Kozik and I saw Anne blush as she set a beer in front of Juice. Why were they thanking Gemma when the girls were the ones that did all the work. I smiled at Kim as she served another plate full of bread.

"Yeah, Kim the lasagna is amazing. I was a bit unsure when I saw you mix all those cheese but its really good" I said taking another bite. The guys stared between Gemma and Kim but moved on after a few seconds.

"Are you guys not eating?" I asked Anne as the girls kept running back and forth to the kitchen grabbing more salad dressing, bread, cheese and beer for the guys.

"They will eat later" said Gemma dismissing them as if they did not matter. I felt Happy wrap his hand around my knee.

"And what are they going to eat?" I asked

"What ever is left" she said

"No offence but I do not see much being left from the two lasagnas" Happy put some pressure on my knee but I refuse to back down

"They can cook something"

"They already spent 2 hours cooking everything that's on the table. And all day cleaning everything" I could feel everyone's eyes on us

"So what? That is what they are here for?"

"You know I could let it go because they are the ones that choose to come to the clubhouse and do all this, but what about their kids? They have been here most of the day and I have not seen them eat."

"They will also eat later" I shook my head and pulled out my phone.

"I would like to place an order to be delivered to Teller-Morrow. Yes 4 pepperoni pizzas and 2 dozen wings half of them no sauce. Great thank you" I said putting my phone back into my pocket never taking my eyes off Gemma.

"I am not paying for the pizza and neither is the club"

" I will pay for it, but after all the work they have done the club should pay for it. Is it not what it is supposed to do? Protect your own"

"Enough" yelled Clay

"Juice make sure that the food gets taken care off" everyone was pretty quiet after that. The girls came back with the pie and peach cobbler.

"Oh Mijo, you will love the peach cobbler. I think Kates recipes are better than mine. You should have seen her face when I told her I used canned peaches. She swears that fresh ones are much better" I look up at Happy when I felt his eyes on me. Previously I was just staring at my plate trying to avoid arguing.

"Yeah?" he askes with a small smile

"Yeah food is always better when it is freshly made" said Bobby scooping a large piece of cobbler onto his plate after Maria served Happy a large scoop with 2 spoons obviously trying to get us to talk.

"Wow girl this is good!" Bobby said

"Maria was a lot of help" I said. After that, conversation flowed a bit more freely. As we were finishing George came back with the pizzas. I got up and took them from him.

"Kim can you go get the kids" I asked going into the kitchen and grabbing plates and cups. I sat them in the bar as the kids started walking in

"have a seat, there is pepperoni pizza" I said. I looked next to me and saw Tara coming back from the kitchen with a gallon of orange juice.

"Juice is better so you guys do not get a sugar rush" she said smiling to the kids and serving them. I smiled at her. Maybe I had someone in my corner.

"Pick up the tables" said Gemma as the guys were walking out to the parking lot

"They will after they eat" the girls were looking between Gemma and me

"Its fine Kate, we can eat afterwards" I took a deep breath and got back to making sure all the kids ate.

After wards the girls ate and the kids left I went outside looking for some fresh air. The guys were in front of church talking. I sat at one of the picnic tables.

"Want a smoke" I gave a small gasp and turned around to see Juice

"You scared me" I said to him and took the cigarette. He lit the lighter for me.

"Thanks" I said to him after taking the first drag and closed my eyes tried to savor it.

"I did not think of you as a smoker" he said sitting next to me

"I try not to be. Doctor remember " he gave a small smile

"yeah these things will kill you" we were quiet for a few minutes just enjoying the breeze and the cigarette.

"I talked to Chibs" I started "His wife is black and I asked him if he would let a black man become a member and he said yes"

"Kate.."

"Juice if you give him information there is no going back"

"I know"

"Juice… I can't keep it from Happy"

"Kate you promised" he whispered yelled

"Juice please tell them. At this point if they can't accept you at least you were honest and did not rat. I can help you if you have to leave Charming"

"What?" he asked with a slight tremble

"I can help you, you can start anywhere new. I will give you the money to start some where else. I will visit you" I promised

"I…I.."

"Hey " we both turned to look at Tara

"Can I talk to you Kate?"

"Yeah" I said. Juice nodded to Tara and left. Tara took Juice's seat.

"What was that about at dinner?" she asked

"It just bothered me how Gemma was taking all the credit"

"That's what they accept when they become croweaters"

"How does one thing have to do with the other. They worked all day cleaning the clubhouse and the dorm rooms where ALL of us will be sleeping and I found it shitty that they are made to wait until everyone eats for them to eat the left overs"

"They can eat before, we are not telling them not to eat"

"They were cooking and cleaning and setting the table until the last minute. Not to mention that they served everything, topped drinks, brought beer to the table. When would they get a chance to eat?" I did not give her a chance to answer.

"What about the kids?" I asked getting angry." Its bullshit that they are left in the little dorm room while their mom's are here cleaning and cooking. Not to mention the tiny room that 7 or 8 kids will be sleeping tonight and the girls"

"What?" she asked confused

"What? You did not know?" I asked "While you and your kids have a room"

"Hey! That is not fair"

"I am not blaming you for that Tara because you did not know. But it bothers me that you are okay with Gemma bullying and degrading the girls calling them whores and yet okay to sit on her ass and eat their food"

"You keep calling them girls" said Tara standing up and pacing in front of her.

"What do you want me to call them?"

"Croweater, sweetbuts, whores"

"See that's all Gemma" I said

"What?"

"Calling them whores that's all Gemma"

"They sleep with Married Man"

"Who are the Married man? You and Lyla are the only girls here meaning that the other guys are not married"

"They are willing to sleep with Jax" she yelled and stopped pacing

"Look if Jax is going to cheat its on Jax not on the girls"

"What if it was Happy?" she asked

"Then that's between Happy and me. But you better believe that I would be pissed rightfully so, but not at the girl it would be at Happy. And it is on Jax whether he choses to cheat or not"

"I just do not know if I can trust him?"

"Then that is on you and him but do not take it out on the girls. I do not know all their stories but look at Kim. She looked for the club for protection from her ex"

"What?" she asked worriedly

"Yeah I do not know the whole story but her ex hit her and then hit her daughter. She left him after that"

"Oh… its hard getting out of an abusive relationship" she whispered quietly

"Yes, it can be" I said. We stayed quiet for a few minutes. Tara was deep in thought.

"I should go check on Maria make sure she is comfortable" Tara nodded her head absently

I walked into the room to find Maria sitting on top of a cot reading

"Maria you are not sleeping on the cot" I said offering my hand to her

"Mija, it is perfectly fine with me to sleep here"

"Well it is not for me"

"You fuss to much about me" she said as I help get up gently . she laid in bed reading he book while I tried to make the small cot as comfortable as possible and blushed thinking that Happy and I would have to share it.

"Hey" I turned to the door where Happy was looking at me. I turned to look at Maria and saw she was asleep. I walked towards the door and closed it once we both stood outside.

"Is she doing okay?" he asked

"Yes, a bit tired but that's normal" he nodded his head

"Are you okay?" he asked me. I nodded my head

"I am. I do not know what Gemma's problem is, but I can handle it" He nodded his head

"I know you can handle it, but these guys also respect Gemma and I do not want them to ever disrespect you. I will not let that go."

"I promise that I will tell you if they ever cross that line" he nodded his head

"Come on lets get some sleep" he pulled me gently into the room. He shed his clothes only keeping his boxers on and laid down. His back against the wall. I laid next to him face to face"

"Go to sleep " he said pulling me closer after shutting off the light. A few minutes later I was drifting off feeling his arms wrapped around me protectively.