Everything SOA related belongs to Kurt Sutter and FX. I only claim the ownership of Ashley and everything else that you haven't seen/ heard on TV.

Happy simply stood there looking at her with that same unreadable expression she had missed so terribly. Figuring it was her turn to make a move Ash stepped out of the shadows and didn't stop until they were face-to-face.

He stared in disbelief as if she was a haunting hallucination. Say something, just say something, her mind begged. But Happy was clearly speechless. Breaking their staring contest, Ash finally opened her mouth, "So Tig's going to kill me for ditching his bike on the side of the road."

"Sorry, too soon for jokes like tha.." she shook her head as her mind captured the bizarre situation they were in.

His palm touched her cheek, stopping her rambling. "It's really you," he whispered raising his other hand to hold her head still.

"Surprise?" she said questioningly. What the hell is wrong with me, can I possibly sound more like an asshole, she screamed at herself mentally.

He let go of her, taking a small step back. "We buried you," he closed his eyes.

"I know… I was taken by the mob and they made sure it looked like I died in the explosion," her vision got blurry as tears filled up her eyes.

Saying nothing, he closed the distance between them and wrapped his arms around her trembling body.

Ashley gazed at his face. His eyes were still closed, making it look as if his mind was somewhere else. She rose to her toes and softly pressed her lips on his. Her tender movement pulled him out of whatever he was experiencing. His hands grabbed her behind, as his mouth opened to deepen their kiss.

With a rapid movement he had picked her up and not breaking their kiss started moving towards the door behind the line of bikes. He kicked it open and carried her in. Ashley heard the door close as Hap laid her down on the hood of a dark blue cabriolet. Towering over her and holding her still with his strong arms, a small smile raised the corners of his mouth.

He dipped his head lower to kiss his way up to her lips, starting from her neck. At the same time his hands were busy unbuttoning her blouse. "This is not the time to take it slow," Ashley whined. With that comment clothes started flying. Soon they were both naked, entwined with each other. He was teasing her with his rhythm. "Jesus Christ, Hap, you're killing me," she moaned out.

He stopped moving altogether and raised his eyebrow.

"No-no, don't you dare stop," she tugged her nails inside his lower back trying to make him move.

With a devilish smile, he pushed himself closer to suck her lower lip and picked up speed.

She felt delirious as they finally collapsed side by side on top of the car. She peaked at him from the corner of her eye. "What happened there?" Ash touched the bandage on his chest.

"New tat," he wrapped his hand around hers.

"Was about time you got your first," she mocked.

He pulled her on top of him, "I… I missed you."

"Came as soon as I could," she arched her back to his lingering touch.

His hands stopped moving, "What do you mean by as soon as you could?"

"Well it took some time to make Maxim trust me enough to even let me see something that could be used as a weapon."

"How much time?" he glared at her.

"I don't know, about a month or something," she shrugged.

"And during that month you didn't have access to phones or Internet?"

She climbed off of him, "I did, but I couldn't reach out, they would have found out and I couldn't gamble with all of your lives again."

"So you just let us carry on thinking you're dead?" he growled accusingly.

"Are you serious?" she couldn't believe her ears.

"Am I serious? How selfish can you possibly be?" Hap was furious.

"I don't know what I was thinking coming here, you obviously are just as much of a dick as you were before," she threw on her clothes and bolted out.

…

Kozik had just gotten to his bike, as he saw Ashley practically ran out of the garage. And she did not look happy, nor was there anyone named Happy coming after her. He caught hold of her arm as she passed by.

"Everything okay, darling?" he asked, already knowing the answer. If Ash had been okay, she probably would not have looked as if she was ready to strangle a horse with her bare hands.

"Perfect," she faked a smile.

Even as messed up as she looked right now, he couldn't help but feel envious. Hap had someone like that and he blew it with seconds. Idiot.

"Eeh," he started, still holding on to her.

"Actually, do you know a place, motel or something, I could go for the night?" Ash stared at him impatiently.

"A motel? Well it's not a five-star thing, but I do have a spare bedroom," he suggested.

She took a moment to think, before nodding. "Thank you, you really do like helping damsels in distress," she couldn't help but return his sincere smile.

He tried not to stare, but his eyes were glued to her misbuttoned shirt and the sight it was offering. By the looks of it, she was not wearing a bra.

He forced his eyes away and pointed at her chest, "Interesting buttoning work you got there."

"Oh, sorry," she started fixing it.

"I ain't complaining, just though you might like to know," Kozik peaked at her, wishing he had said nothing.

"Such a gentleman," Ash climbed behind him.

Kozik almost missed the right turn, as his mind was too busy trying to calm down the storm in his pants, that the thought of Ash's almost bare chest touching his back had brought on. He needed to shake her off of his mind. Kozik knew better than to go after something or someone Happy considered as his. After all they were brothers and no chick should ever come between them.

"You must be hungry," he said after they had gotten inside.

"Starved," Ashley put down her bag.

Resting on the side of his kitchen counter and watching her gulp down the vodka shot he had just poured out, he felt the words slip out of his mouth. "Can I ask what happened?"

"Nothing, I just forgot who I was dealing with," she rolled her eyes.

"You sure about that? I'd say he has been like a different man since he came back here, you should give him time to figure out what just happened." He was telling the truth, she had changed Hap more than Happy himself would ever admit. Still trying to fix up the mess of a relationship-boat those two were sailing on felt oddly wrong.

Just as Ashley was ready to protest to everything Kozik had just said, there was a doorbell.

"I'll get it," Ash jumped down from where she was sitting and went to get the door. Only that it wasn't the hot and tasty pizza waiting behind the wooden door, it was Happy.

"No," she slammed the door in his face.