Chapter 14:

Three months later …

"I wanna swing past the clubhouse before we head home 'kay Princess?"

"Sure Hap." She said running her hand across the top of her now large pregnant belly.

"You okay?" He asked her.

"Fine Hap. Just tired. It's been a busy few days."

"That it has but now it's done. We're all moved and ready to welcome our little man into the world."

Hailey smiled. "Yep. I just can't believe Amey has started school already. I mean it seems like yesterday we getting ready to welcome her into the world."

He reached across and placed his hand upon her thigh.

"We can't be late to pick her up on her first day though." She added.

"We won't be Princess. We got plenty of time." He said as he pulled her Chev into the lot. "Besides we won't be long here. I just wanna catch up on anything I've missed over the last few days."

"Okay. I might go take a nap in your dorm." She said as she slid from the car once he'd opened her door for her.

"Sure Princess." He said sliding his arm around her shoulders as they walked across the lot toward the clubhouse.

He pushed the door open for the two of them and placed a kiss on her forehead before she headed down the hallway to his dorm and he over to where Chibs sat, a rather large glass of whiskey in front of him.

"Ye all moved into the new place now Hap?" The Scotsman asked as Happy pulled out a seat opposite him.

"Yeah. Things are still rough around here I take it?" Happy asked eyeing the whiskey glass in his president's hand.

"Aye. The sooner this final deal with those Russian pricks is done the better."

"Anymore threats?" Happy asked.

"No, but Alverez is pressin' hard to be at the last meet. He doesn't like being kept out of the deals."

"I can't say I blame 'im."

"Aye. Me either but this is about keeping us whole so we can go home to our families now Hap."

"Yeah. Nothin' more important than that." Happy agreed thinking about Hailey and how close she was to her due date.

"A few more days and It'll be done." Chibs said resolutely.

"Fingers crossed it all goes to plan." Happy added.

"Aye. You wanna join me in a game?" Chibs asked rising and heading over to the pool table where two croweaters were aimlessly hitting the balls around.

"Yeah, why not. Hailey's taking a nap so I got nothin' else to do." He said with a wink.

Chibs smirked at the Tacoma Killer knowing that he and Hailey's sex life was still just as active as it had been when they first got together over a decade ago.

"Clear off ladies." He said to the to the croweaters as he took a pool cue from one and watched as Happy began racking up the balls.

"Is it alright if we watch?" One of them was brazen enough to ask.

"Sure. Just stay outta the way." Happy said. "You must be new around here. Don't think I've seen you before."

The little red head smiled. "Yeah I am. I think I'd have remembered you if I'd seen you." She purred running her hand down his arm as he readied to take a shot.

"Rack off." He said shaking her hand off. "I said not to get in the way."

She took a step back and watched as he took his shot, potting a ball but snookering himself in the process.

"Damn it." He growled.

"Never mind." The brazen little red head crooned. "I'm sure I could help you to feel better after if you lose."

He raised his eyebrows at her and smirked wondering what Hailey would make of her persistent flirting.

He had no choice but to hit one of Chibs balls on his next shot and watched as the Scotsman chuckled at how easily he could sink at least three balls.

"Ah! Jesus Christ." The Scotsman fumed as he watched the white ball follow behind the ball he had just sunk into the corner pocket.

"It seems you gentleman are in need of some stress relief." The other croweater said moving in on Chibs, who placed an arm around her shoulder as if entertaining the idea of her suggestive words.

Happy smirked, knowing it was a front to lead her on. Althea would have his balls if she caught him with a croweater. The brazen little red head at his side edged closer and dared to run her hand up under his kutte as he leant in to take a shot.

He turned and raised his eyebrows at her which she took as an invitation to continue. She hadn't seen Hailey standing, fuming, beside the bar. She stroked her hand across his stomach as he stood up and moved to stand in front of him and run her hands up to his chest.

"You might wanna get your hands off me sweetheart." He said.

"And why is that?" She scowled, but biting her lip with anticipation, as she continued running her hands across his chest and to his shoulders.

"Because your about to get your ass kicked." He said as he looked over her head at Hailey who looked ready to do some serious damage to the new redheaded croweater.

"You must be new around here." She said as she approached returning the amused glint she'd caught in Happy's eye.

The croweater turned to gaze upon the owner of the voice that had addressed her. "Why does everyone keep asking that?" She asked with disdain when she saw her knowing instantly that she wasn't a fellow croweater.

"Because you should no better than to be rubbing up against him." Hailey said, an edge of warning in her voice.

"And who are you to warn me away sweetheart?" The croweater asked sweetly.

"I'd be his wife." Hailey said venomously.

"Ha." The red head began to laugh. "Honey you're in no state to be able to keep him satisfied." She said as she ran her eyes over Hailey's heavily pregnant form.

"You'll find that you're very wrong about that." Hailey snarled.

"Honey it's okay to admit it. When was the last time you were able to give him what he wants?"

"This morning actually. So step away from him and I won't mess up that pretty little face."

"And what are you gonna do if I don't?"

Hailey didn't bother with an answer as she raised her fist and connected with the redhead's nose. Her hands flew to her face and were immediately drenched in her own blood. She turned to Happy in an attempt to seek comfort.

"Don't say I didn't warn ya. Get outta here." He growled to the now sniveling redhead.

She turned and headed swiftly toward the door nearly running headlong into Tig as he came in.

"What happened to her?" He asked as he approached the small group around the pool table.

"She met Hailey's fist." Happy answered with a smirk as he pulled Hailey proudly toward him.

"I think I might ah go and see if she's okay." Said the now dumbfounded croweater that still stood at Chibs side.

"That might be a good idea sweetheart." Chibs said.

"I guess you're done napping Princess?" Happy asked the corner of his mouth lifting into a smile.

"Yeah. I couldn't sleep." She answered recognizing the glint in his eye.

"Your still so fucking hot when your angry Princess." He almost snarled against her ear.

"Jesus, take it home you too." Chibs said.

Several days later …

"Are you sure you're gonna be okay while I'm gone this morning Princess?" Happy asked for the third time since dropping Amey at school.

"Yes Hap. I'll be fine." She said as he sank to his knees in front of her to place his hands on the large round of her belly. He raised her top and kissed her belly button that had long ago popped out.

"Listen up in there little man. Daddy has some things to take care of this morning, so you stay put until I'm back." He ordered his unborn son.

Hailey giggled. "Get back up here you." She said grabbing at his hand to try to pull him back up towards her.

He rose to his feet as he spoke, "Seriously babe. I don't wanna leave you today, with you bein' so close to your due date and all."

"Babe, I'll be fine. Everything has gone completely to plan so far. Relax okay?" She said running her nails down the back of his head, an action that she knew he could never resist.

"Oh Christ Hailey. You always know what to say don't ya?"

"More like what to do." She murmured as she pulled his lips down to hers feeling him relax in her arms.

"Mmm baby." He murmured as he ran his hand across her belly to her back. "Turn around." He said leading her to the kitchen counter where he placed her hands against it as he ran his hands down over her hips all the while kissing her neck and shoulders. She threw her head back against his shoulder as he slid his hands down the front of her pants and into her underwear. He felt her hips shudder as he placed his fingers against her.

"I want you in me baby." She murmured. "Do we have time?"

"I can make time for that baby." He said sliding her panties down her hips before sliding his fingers into her as his other hand undid his belt.

She bit her lip as he ran his quickly hardening length from the small of her back down between her ass cheeks before sliding his fingers out of her and his cock in. She moaned as she felt him fill her. He pressed his hands against her back increasing the angle at which he slid in and out of her and he knew judging by the soft whimpers that escaped her increasing her pleasure.

"Oh Christ baby. I'm so close already." She moaned.

"Me too Princess." He panted, gripping her hips as they rolled back against him meeting each thrust.

Biting his lip, he slid a hand up to cup her huge belly that action in itself enough to tip her over the edge.

He gasped as he felt her walls clamp around him. She threw her head back against his shoulder in ecstasy as her orgasm hit and then bit her lip and whimpered as it simmered blissfully away. With one more thrust he followed her, sinking his teeth into her neck as he did.

"You're so fucking beautiful Princess." He murmured into her ear as he slid out of her and ran both his hands over the round of her belly.

"Even when I'm huge and pregnant?" She asked relishing the feel of his hands rough upon the softness of her skin.

"You're always beautiful to me baby." He said kissing a trail down her neck. She turned in his embrace to meet his lips with her own.

"Promise me you won't be long away babe. I've kinda got a feeling that today is the day."

"Really?"

She nodded.

"I'll do my best to be back here as soon as I can be okay?" he said running his hand down her cheek as he looked into the sheer adoration in her steel blue eyes.

"Thanks Hap." She said as he turned his attention to her belly.

"And you little man remember what I said. You stay put until Daddy gets home."

Hailey giggled as the baby inside her began kicking like mad. "He certainly likes the sound of your voice Hap." She said as she placed Happy's hand against the spot where most

"Hope that means he listened then." He said placing a kiss on Hailey's forehead.

"What is today anyway babe?" She asked, as he headed to the door, not sure if she wanted to know the answer or not.

"Last meet with the Russians." He answered as he shrugged on his kutte.

"Shit. Be careful please Hap." Hailey said as he reached up to grab his glock and knife from the highest shelf.

"You have my word Princess." He said giving her a wink as he closed their front door behind him.

It was approaching midday when Hailey felt the first twinge of labor. She glanced at the clock on the wall in the kitchen. It's okay, Hap will be back soon. She thought to herself as she felt another, a little more intense this time.

She gripped the edge of the table as the slight twinge intensified into a full blown contraction. "Guess you don't plan on listening to Daddy do you little man?" She said as she reached for her phone to dial Happy's number. She listened as it rang out, so she tried again, only to hear it ring out a second time. She left him a voice mail message asking him to call her. She crossed to the lounge room to put a few last minute things into her bag and found herself doubled over with pain again as another contraction ripped through her. "Geez little man hold up and wait for Daddy will ya?"

She made her way back to the kitchen and tried calling Happy again. Still no answer. She sighed glancing at the clock again. She knew by looking at it that her contractions were about 5 minutes apart, which meant that starting out that close together they would progress quickly. She looked at her phone still in her hands willing him to call her back.

After a few more minutes and another contraction, she sighed and knew she couldn't wait any longer and dialed Cass's number.

"Hey Hail. What's up?" Cass's chirpy voice answered.

"Are you busy?"

"A little. You okay?"

"I'm about to have a baby and I can't get a hold of Hap. You reckon you could come take me to the hospital?"

"Oh shit. Sure, I'll be right there okay?"

"Thanks Cass." Hailey gasped, gritting her teeth as she hung up.

"Christ little man. Your determined aren't you?" She said running her hand over the site where the pain was subsiding.

A short time later Cassidy burst through her front door. "How are you doing?" She asked.

"I'm okay. Still five minutes apart but Christ their intense."

"Okay, let's go then honey. This your only bag?" She asked picking up the white duffel bag that sat on the couch.

"Yeah." Hailey nodded as Cass looped her free arm through hers and led her out to her waiting car.

"I got hold of Tig. He's gonna meet us at the hospital."

"What about Hap?"

"I don't know Hail. Tig didn't say anything."

"Tiggy, where's Happy?" Hailey asked. "No offence but it should be him here, not you."

"I know Doll. It'll be okay." He said as he saw her face crumple with pain again, her contractions closer together now.

She gasped and panted as the pain subsided. "He wouldn't miss this for the world Tig. Why isn't he here?" she asked again fear beginning to rise in her voice.

"Just get through this as best you can okay Doll?" He said watching as Cass wiped a cool cloth over Hailey's forehead. She knew he was dodging her questions and doing a bad job at it.

"I'm gonna head out to the hallway 'kay baby?" he added placing a kiss on Cass's forehead and pulling her toward him so he could whisper something in her ear before he headed out of the room.

"What's going on Cass? Where is my husband?" Hailey demanded.

"I don't know Hailey. Just focus on having this baby okay?" Cassidy reassured her friend.

"How can I? He's supposed to here!" Hailey said growing increasingly anxious. "What did Tig just say to you?"

"He only said to get you through this Hail. Nothing else."

"Something's happened hasn't it? Something happened to him." She said her voice rising as the beginnings of the most intense contraction she'd had so far began.

"I promise Hail; I don't know where he is." Cass said.

"Mrs. Lowman," said the midwife at the foot of the bed. "I need you to relax okay? I'm sure your husband will be here just as soon as he can okay? Sometimes babies are so impatient to enter this world that their daddies have no chance of being here on time and yours is one of them okay?"

Hailey shook her head as the pain subsided momentarily. "No. He promised. After I nearly died last time he promised he'd be here." She said as tears sprang to her eyes.

"I'm aware of your history Mrs. Lowman and I assure you that it's all going to be okay this time. I'm sure your husband will make it, now with your next contraction I need you to push. Can you do that?"

Hailey nodded and squeezed tight to Cass's hand as it began. "Ow, ow, ow, shit!" Cass exclaimed at the grip Hailey had on her. "Hail, can I have my hand back please?" She asked prying Hailey's hand from her own as she headed quickly to the door and popped her head out.

"Tiggy? Get in here." She said seeing that more members of Samcro had gathered, a heavy mood among most of them. "In Happy's absence she needs your hand."

"Ah Christ really? You nearly broke it."

"Just get in here." She said grabbing his cut and pulling him into the room.

Tig reached Hailey's side just in time for her to grab hold of his hand and grip it hard as she pushed through another contraction.

"Okay Sweetie, we have the head. You're nearly there." The midwife announced. "Just a gentle push while I loosen bub's shoulders okay?"

Hailey smiled as she heard her baby's first cry.

"There we go sweetheart, last little push and you have yourself a healthy baby boy." The midwife said.

Hailey loosened her grip on Tig's hand as she looked down to see the slimy little bundle in the midwife's hands. "Do you want to cut the cord sweetheart?"

"Um, yeah I guess." Hailey said clearly a little bewildered.

"Here you go. I'll place him on your belly while you cut it and then we'll get him wrapped up okay?"

Hailey nodded as she held tight to the scissors and cut with shaky hands. Tig placed his hand around hers and helped her when he saw that she was struggling to cut all the way through.

"Well done." The midwife said as she took the scissors and began to wrap the baby boy still in Hailey's arms. "Now Mrs. Lowman, your afterbirth seems to be intact but as agreed we're going to take you down to theatre and have a little look just to make sure, so we don't have a repeat of last time."

Hailey nodded.

"We'll take bubs to the nursery to get checked out on the way okay?" The midwife said reassuringly.

Hailey nodded again, anxiousness at Happy's absence beginning to return.

"Does he have a name yet?" the midwife asked as she helped Hailey into a wheelchair.

"Pierce." Hailey answered as they were wheeled from the room.

"Kinda like a shortened version of Piermont?" Tig asked.

"Yeah," Hailey answered with a small smile as she looked down at her son in her arms.

Hailey was surprised to see so many members of Samcro gathered outside the nursery when she was wheeled back from theatre having been given the all clear that there was at no risk of experiencing the severe hemorrhaging she did following Amey's birth due to a piece of placenta being left behind.

She cast her eyes around looking for her husband but still didn't see him. Something told her they weren't just gathered for the birth of her son.

"He has Happy's eyes Doll." Tig said looking through the window of the nursery, at the tiny boy who lay looking calmly at everything around him.

"Are you gonna tell me where he is now?" She asked swallowing back a lump in her throat.

"Things didn't exactly go to plan at the meet this morning Doll."

"What do you mean didn't go to plan?"

"Happy got shot."

"He what? Is he …"

"He's alive sweetheart, but he's in bad shape." Said Chibs coming to her side.

"But he's going to be okay right?" She asked anxiously.

"They don't know yet sweetheart. He's just come out of surgery not too long ago." Chibs answered honestly.

"I need to see him." Hailey demanded.

"We'll do what we can to organize it okay. But you have to take it easy alright Doll?"

She looked around at the corridor filled patches, all of them with their eyes on her no doubt waiting for her to crumble.

"I just need to see him Tiggy." She said pushing back the tears she could feel forming in her eyes.

Hailey wheeled herself to Happy's bedside once Tig had closed the door behind her. She took in his form, near lifeless save the ventilator that forced the rise and fall of his chest. With so many tubes and machines surrounding him she barely recognized the mountain of a man that she loved.

She took his hand in hers and brought it to her lips tears streaming down her face.

"Damn you Happy Lowman." She spat out amongst her tears, "This isn't how things are meant to be. I did my bit Happy. I brought your son into this world and I didn't die on you so what the hell is this?" She continued.

"You're not allowed to die either! Did I forget to tell you that? I was pretty sure I didn't have to." She said sobbing against his hand.

"You're an asshole Happy. You hear me? This wasn't meant to happen. We were supposed to get our happy ending. You don't get to fucking die Happy. You don't get to die." She said gripping his hand tight in both of hers.

The room was silent around her save the beeping of his heart monitor as she sat at his bedside lost in a world overwhelming emotions.