AN: I know I've been super slow with updating. I apologize. Ma has been in and out of the hospital, one time being because of a heart attack. Shes home and doing great now so I'm hoping to finally be able to sit down and update. On top of that I have been working nine-ten hour days. This is hardly an update, I so very much apologize. Its just to show you that I am STILL updating this story. I love you all 3
The night was filled with nightmares. Faceless, disfigured women chased Madison down alleys of some city. It was like a garden maze but made up of tall buildings instead. She ran and ran and eventually found herself cornered at a dead end. She thrashed and fought until the women had torn her apart. When she forced herself awake Maddie found herself still on the couch, sun streaming through the window. Sitting up she rubbed her eyes and glanced at the clock. Ten in the morning? There was no way she had just slept for fourteen hours. Groaning the young woman lifted herself from the couch and stretched. She walked around downstairs looking for Chibs but found him no where. With a sigh she slowly made her way to her room to shower. The hot water felt nice against her sore muscles. Sleeping on a couch was never pleasant in the morning. Where the hell had Chibs gone? He was supposed to wake her if he heard anything. Was it good if he didn't wake her? Unless…it had been bad news. Maddie shook her head trying to rid herself of such thoughts. She needed to stay positive, needed to keep thinking this was all just a huge mistake.
Rushing through the rest of her shower Maddie quickly yanked on some clothes and practically ran down the stairs to the kitchen. Again, she searched the house and found nothing. It wasn't until she was about to call Happy that she heard voice floating softly through the back door. Inching close she peered out and found Chibs standing with Happy right outside the door. Knowing if they spotted her they would immediately cease their conversation, Madison pressed her ear against the door, careful not to move the small curtain around.
"Aye I know but ya hafta tell 'er. She'll find out soon enough 'Appy."
"I know. It's gonna kill her though. She's been through enough already."
"Ya really care fer the girl don' ya?"
"Chibs."
"It's written on ya face."
"I love her. Never thought I'd ever say the words but I do."
"Ya gonna mark 'er? Ya know a crow is the only way to keep the others off 'er."
"She ain't gonna do that Chibs. I can't ask her to do that. She isn't cut out for the club life. She doesn't belong in it." Tears made Madison's throat sore. Happy's words sounded like he didn't want her around this, not that she could blame him but shouldn't she have a say? She knew that if she chose something other than the MC life she couldn't have Happy. Was he worth enough to stay?
With a sigh of defeat, Madison returned to the couch and curled up again. She lay there quietly until she heard the noise of the back door and Thor's paws against the floor. Shutting her eyes she pretended to be asleep. Thor jumped up on to her, giving Maddie the opportunity to pretend to wake up. Grumbling softly, she rubbed her eyes and opened them. Chibs was saying goodbye to Happy, both of them turning to find her eyes on them.
"Hey, what time is it?" She asked softly. With Thor in her lap she couldn't really sit up.
"A little afta ten luv." Chibs walked over and kissed her on the forehead. "Gotta run. 'Appy will atay with ya." Maddie nodded and pulled herself out from under Thor, just enough to sit up a little. She sat without saying a word as the two walked to the door and Happy came back. He just stood there, eyes on hers, not saying a word.
"What's wrong?" She asked. Happy ran a hand over his face and sighed.
"Nothing. Let's get you fed." And with that he turned and walked off to the kitchen. She knew he did this, acting cold and disconnected, when he was hiding something. She could call him out on it and the conversation from the backyard or she could let it go for the time being. Maddie decided on the latter, not feeling well enough for an argument. With a groan, she pushed Thor off her legs and followed Happy into the kitchen. He had already begun pulling things from the fridge.
"You know how to cook?" She came around to stand against the counter to watch him. He shot her a look and she laughed. The answer was definitely no. Reaching for the pan in the drying rack, Madison began mixing things for French toast. "You help." They cooked quietly, not a noise from either one of them. Madison was mulling over who to speak with about the conversation and how to ask if everything was fixed last night. Once they were both seat, Happy digging into his food Madison took her chance. "So what happened last night? Were you able to get a hold of Tia and the girls?" The chewing ceased immediately and Madison felt the icy cold fingers of fear touch her spine. "Happy?"
"Yea we did. They are all fine. Tig and a few prospects are going there today to make sure." With that he dug back into his food. Maddie knew there was a lot more to it than just that. He wouldn't have froze like he did if there wasn't. She'd let it go for now.