Tig had called twice and Rat, a total of three times. I never heard my phone, but Chibs eventually caught his just as I was finishing up. Rat was close to having a panic attack and Tig was pissed. Chibs made some lame excuse about the Glide not starting and that we were on our way. We should have left 20 minutes ago, and it took about 15 more to reach TM from the house. We were supposed to meet there and ride in together to the reservation. I could only imagine what kind of panic attack this was causing Brooke.

"You said we had time," I growled as I returned to the bathroom to finish up.

Chibs was dressed already, looking very regal and intimidating in his all black ensemble. The only items breaking up the monochromatic color scheme were his SAMCRO belt and gray boots. He had the sleeves of his long-sleeved button-up rolled up as he fought with is hair, and as I walked by, I playfully grabbed a handful of his ass. He yelped and turned his backside away from me.

"What the fuck?" he asked.

I smiled and grabbed my hairbrush.

"Hey! You have a nice ass. Nothing to be ashamed of," I said.

Chibs rolled his eyes. Of course, Filip Telford had little to no shame.

"Callie, would you-"

He cut himself off and looked back down at me, finally noticing what I was wearing. I pretended to not pay attention as I picked up a rhinestone headband and stretched it behind my fringe. There was not much I could do, or had the ability to do with an asymmetrical pixie cut. I ran texturizer through it, curled up my fringe to the best of my ability, as I currently did not own a curling iron, and slapped on a headband. It worked with my chosen outfit—a black tank with studs along the neckline and lace up the sides, my SAMCRO ring, black booties with chains and straps along the ankle, and a pair of fake leather pants Venus had dared me to get. They were not skin tight or shiny by any means, but they did exactly what Vee had said they would do: make Chibs' jaw hit the floor.

"Holy shit, Callie!"

I looked at his reflection to indeed see his mouth wide open.

"What?" I asked.

He slowly took my arm and turned my body to the side for a frontal view. I had never seen the man gawk until now.

"Too much?" I asked.

Chibs lifted his eyes from my outfit and smiled softly.

"No. It's perfect," he replied.

I smiled and reached up to adjust his collar, which did not really need to be straightened. He watched my every move and smiled.

"How do I look?" he asked.

I smiled and patted his chest.

"Like a king," I replied, then pecked his lips before taking his hand and shutting the light off, "Come on. Let's go watch our brother get married."

Chibs smiled and followed me out the door.

Tig was pacing a rut in the concrete by the time we arrived at TM. Rat looked like he was about to have a fit. Chibs and I looped around and pulled up beside Tig.

"Where the hell have you two been?" Tig barked at us.

"Bike problems. It's all good now, brother," Chibs said loudly over the Glide's idling engine.

"Good. Let's get the hell out of here!" Tig replied.

Chibs laughed and agreed.

Our pack was organized a little differently from how we normally traveled. Back when I started, I would travel ahead, then Chibs leading Tig and Happy, then Rane and Rat, then Montez, and T.O., with Juice trailing behind. With the change in positions, I rode alongside Rat. Today, we traveled parallel. I led beside Chibs, Rat behind me and beside his best man, Hap and Quinn, and then Montez and T.O. I was not sure whose idea it was to travel like this, but as we pulled out of TM, I got a rush of adrenaline. Not only did we look cool, but I could feel the power. That is what made riding addicting, and that is why I loved traveling with these guys. Knowing who you were with, what you were doing, and just simply being a part of a club that every member loved, and everyone else feared. It was the epitome of badass. Besides that, the only thing better than riding with Chibs, was riding alongside him, and that was my favorite part.
A worn area in the trees at the Wahewa Reservation was filled with chairs, flowers, lights, white drapery, and two lines of motorcycles facing each other, creating the aisle that we would walk down. There were bikes from fellow SOA charters, Mayan bikes, Grim Bastard bikes, and bikes belonging to friends and family. We were the last to make up the line. Chibs, Tig, Hap, and Montez on the left, then myself, Rat, Quinn and T.O. on the right. Wendy rushed us as soon as the bikes' engines were shut off.

"Thank God! What took you guys so long? Brooke's been worrying herself to tears," she said.

"We had a little bike trouble. We're good now," Chibs lied.

Rat dismounted his bike.

"What happened? Is she okay?" he asked worriedly.

"Yeah, it's just her wedding isn't going to plan and she's starting to show," she replied sarcastically.

"We're here now. I'm sure she'll understand. We'll get everyone seated and the ball rolling," Tig assured her.

Wendy nodded and pushed her long, curly hair behind her ear.

"Okay. Um, Callie, can you come help me? Brooke cried her eyeliner off," she replied.

I smiled.

"Sure. I'll be right there," I replied.

Wendy smiled and walked off. I watched until she was out of hearing range before turning and swatting Chibs' chest. Chibs grunted and grabbed his sternum. That had to hurt, because my knuckles were screaming.

"Mother of Christ!" he hissed.

I pointed a finger at him.

"This is on you! We're getting a goddamn clock for the bathroom!" I hissed.

"Okay, but did you have to hit me so hard?" he asked.

I frowned and rubbed the spot.

"No, I got carried away, baby. I'm sorry," I replied.

Chibs pouted and I reached up and pecked his lips.

"I forgive ya. Go save the day," he said.

I smiled. Tig stepped up to us and pretended he was going to choke Chibs.

"Bike problems my ass!" he growled.

I laughed and turned away.

"Take care of him, Tiggy!" I called over my shoulder.

"Oh, you're both so grounded!" he shouted.

I just laughed and disappeared before Papa Tig could ground my ass.

"Hairspray?" Venus asked me as we made sure our hair and makeup were perfect.

I took the offered can and gave my hair a light spray. Nero walked into the tent with Thomas on his hip and Abel on his arm. Wendy approached them and told Abel to make sure his Uncle Tig received the rings. I handed the can of spray back to Venus and straightened my shirt. The tank I had picked was not cut low enough to see my crow, but I could still see the words, and that was good enough for me.
Nero took the boys back out of the tent and Wendy gritted her teeth.

"Well, Brooke was ready," she said.

Venus and I turned to her, concerned.

"Could be a nervous stomach, and it could be that she's just knocked up," she explained.

I cringed. Poor girl.

"Oh, that sweet girl," Venus said, "I hope she doesn't ruin her dress."

Wendy waved her off.

"Lyla's making sure she aims in the right direction," she replied.

Venus sighed.

"She does know it'll be over as soon as it starts? Say the I Do's, kiss and party," I said.

"I know, Callie, but it is a lot of pressure," she said, "Anyone got a breath strip?"

Venus went for her purse.

"I got you, sweetheart," she said.

Wendy smiled and turned to me.

"Did you really ride in heels?" she asked.

I smiled.

"Hell yeah!"

Wendy laughed. Lyla returned with an exhausted, but relieved Brooke.

"I think I'm empty now," she said.

Venus walked over to her and handed her a bottle of water and a pack of breath strips.

"Keep them," she said.

Brooke smiled gratefully. Lyla adjusted Brooke's up-do and sprayed it once more. Brooke washed her mouth out with water and popped a breath strip. Venus helped her reapply her lipstick, and she was soon ready.

"Callie, baby, can you go tell Mr. Putner that Brooke is ready?" Venus asked, "He's the bigger man in the tux standing outside the tent."

I nodded.

"Want me to bring him in here?" I asked.

"Yes, please, Callie," Wendy said, then thanked me.

I nodded and walked out of the tent to find the man in question, who looked just as nervous as his daughter.

"Mr. Putner?" I asked.

He looked up suddenly. I just smiled at him.

"Brooke's ready," I said.

He smiled and nodded. I led him back into the tent as Wendy was putting Brooke's veil on. He saw her and immediately broke down. Brooke smiled and walked up to hug him. I just looked down and kept quiet. I knew my parents would have done the same thing if they had seen me in a wedding dress, whether it was Z or Chibs.
The wedding began shortly after we settled. Rane led the groomsmen to the altar, following by Happy and Chibs. Rane stood at the far end of the line, then Happy next to him, and Chibs a spot over from where the best man was to stand. Then, Tig walked with Rat before it was time for the bridesmaids. Lyla led the way, and I followed behind Venus. Wendy was going to walk with Brooke and hold the end of her long dress. The job had originally been assigned to Abel, but at rehearsals, he put up a fight. Wendy was more than happy to take the job. Make things easier.
We walked up to the altar and I stood in the spot that mirrored Chibs'. As we waited for the bride to make her descent down the aisle. I caught Chibs tilting his head and looking at me. I turned my head to see him smile and wink. I smiled back and looked up when Brooke and Mr. Putner appeared. Wendy just behind them. Everyone stood, and they made the slow walk to the altar. Wendy carefully laid the tail of the dress down and kissed Brooke's cheek before coming to stand beside me.

"She looks beautiful," she whispered to me.

I smiled and nodded. Brooke took Rat's hands and Rat could not stop smiling. I was happy for him, and even though everything was happening fast for him and Brooke, I hoped and prayed their relationship would last. Break the odds.
The two had written their own vows, and Brooke's vows had her so choked up it was hard to understand her. Wendy whispered reassurances, but they only helped a little. Rat's vows were clearer, but just as heartfelt.

"And," Tig said strictly.

Rat pouted.

"Not that," he whispered.

"Ya have to," Chibs said.

Rat rolled his eyes.

"And I promise…to treat you as good as my leather…and ride you as much as my Harley," he said, then end of the vow recited by every biker in attendance.

Wendy burst out laughing.

"I forgot they did that," she admitted to me.

I laughed.

"You may kiss the bride," the preacher said.

Rat happily took Brooke's jaw and laid one on her. The audience cheered and clapped, the boys shouted and making whooping noises.

"Let's party!" Tig all but screamed.

The club surrounded Rat and Brooke and we hugged them, Chibs kissing the side of Rat's head.

The club sat around a table, smoking cigars and taking the piss out of each other after we had eaten dinner. Most of the party was on the dance floor, and the rest were relaxing at the tables, laughing drunkenly and toasting Rat and Brooke over Michelob's. With the exclusion of Rat, the remaining seven of us commandeered a table, the boys in the chairs, and I had perched myself on the white table cloth between Chibs and T.O. Chibs elbow was propped on my thigh, and we spent an hour laughing at each other and listening to the blues band on the stage.

"You two better be next!" Tig hissed to Chibs and I.

I just laughed.

"Um, no! You and Venus are next," I retorted.

Tig snorted. Rane leaned over the table and gestured to me, a longneck between his fingers.

"You think marriage is in the cards for you guys?" he asked me.

I smiled and looked down at Chibs. He smiled softly as I combed a lock of brown and silver behind his ear.

"If he behaves," I said teasingly.

Chibs playfully scoffed.

"If I behave?" he asked, pretending to be offended.

I grinned and tilted his head up to kiss him. It was way too early to discuss marriage at this point, but I would not hesitate to say yes when the time came.

"And it just got gross. I'm leaving," Tig said, standing up.

Chibs let out a small sound of protest.

"Where the hell are ya goin'?" he asked.

Tig popped his collar and widened his already large blue eyes.

"I'm gonna dance with my Old Lady," he replied, then walked off with his head held high.

"Who's pussy-whipped now?" Happy called after him.

Tig just flipped him off and shook his mane of curls. I laughed. You had to respect the man. He could be spending his time getting drunk with us, maintaining his masculinity, but he not only willingly went to dance with Venus, he did it proudly. Proud that she was his. Comfortable in his sexuality. Proud as hell of their beautiful relationship. Whipped? A little. Venus had all control of him, but pussy? Only my brothers were the pussies in this argument.
Chibs stood from the table.

"Come on, love," he said.

I looked up at him in surprise.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

The look on the man's face was absolutely smoldering, and my entire body was set aflame. His chestnut eyes, dilated in the dim light anyway, appeared black and narrowed as his smile turned sideways. I'm sure my brothers could tell I was done for.

"Okay, I'll go. Anywhere you want. Just lead me there," I thought.

"Dance floor," he replied.

My jaw hit the ground far faster and harder than his had when he saw my outfit of the night. As suddenly as it dropped, it snapped back up and I smirked.

"Well, well, Chibs. Feeling like being romantic tonight?" I asked.

My brothers snickered, but knew not to say anything.

"Ya make me want to romance ya," he said lowly.

Yup. I'm yours.

Happy made a whipping sound. I spun around to him and glared. The Sergeant at Arms bit his lip and sat still.

"Let's go, baby," I said to Chibs.

Chibs smiled and took my hand. I slid down from the table and Chibs swatted the back of Hap's head.

"Be respectful," he said.

Happy nodded.

"Yes, boss."

I smiled and linked my arm with my Old Man's, walking with him through the grass to the dance floor. On the floor, Rat was holding his new bride around the waist, as a slow, Blues guitar solo floated from the speakers. Tig and Venus were moving around the floor, holding each others hands as she held his shoulder and he, her waist. The amount of love in his eyes made me smile. Nothing mattered to them in that moment except each other.

"You gonna bust some moves, Chibs?" I asked.

Chibs smiled.

"Saoirse always liked to dance. Even when her health was rapidly declinin', she'd use the strength for the day to dance to nothin' but the sound of sirens outside and rats in the walls. I was always up for dancin' with my mother," he said.

My face fell. Way to kill my mood.

"Now I get to dance with you," he said softly.

I looked back up at him and smiled. He stood before me and held his hands out. I took them and stepped up to him. He was all smiles.

"Mind you, I'm no good at it," he added.

I laughed as he wrapped an arm around my waist. I held his left hand with my right and he kissed my knuckles as I wrapped my free arm around his back. We rested our clasped hands on his chest and he pecked my lips.

"I don't mind," I said.

He smiled warmly and lightly butted my forehead. We rocked from side to side, letting the music set our gait and getting lost in each other. I laid my head on his collarbone and closed my eyes, absorbing his warmth, the feeling of being locked securely in his arms, and his cigar-scented breath as he nuzzled my forehead and lightly kissed my nose. It made me forget about my problems. The VII could not get me here. Nightmares could not find me here. I was safe. This was my best friend, the man I loved over all. Hell, I had not had a nightmare since my bedroom upgrade. Nothing but normal, nonsensical dreams, or good ones, if I had any at all. I did not need to dream, anyway. Reality, for once, was way better.
We shifted after a while, moving to the position every tired dancer had resorted to. Arms around necks and waists. I draped my arms around Chibs' neck and he locked his lips with mine in a slow, lingering kiss.

"You look beautiful, Callie girl," he said softly.

I smiled.

"You're not so bad yourself, Prez," I said playfully.

Chibs smiled tiredly and kissed me again before hugging me. I smiled and buried the side of my face in his shirt. Chibs nuzzled his face against my forehead.

"I love you, my sweet girl," he whispered.

I let a hand slide back around to his chest and closed my eyes.

"I love you, too, Filip."

It was as if lightning flashed behind his eyes, and the thunder that followed left him groaning in pain. He felt stiff, and his nose felt packed with dense cotton. He rolled onto his back of pressed the heels of his hands against his eye sockets, as if physical pressure would release the pounding in his sinuses. It helped, but only for a moment.
Chibs tried to sniff and clear his nasal passages as he stared up at the ceiling. The dreaded day had come at last. It was allergy season, and though his flare-ups would last a week and be over with as soon as they came on, he would be grumpy for the next month. He knew if he was going to be someone decent to be around, he had to get his hands on some strong allergy pills. That was easy for him, but he hated the havoc it wreaked on his system. The pollen in Ireland had nothing on whatever was floating around in Charming.

"Jesus," Chibs mumbled.

He sniffed miserably and turned his head to check on Callie. He smiled at her. She was laying on her back, one arm over her head and the other tangled in the sheets. Her head was tilted slightly towards him, her face inexpressive. He rolled onto his side to face her and absently took a piece of black hair between his fingers. Her head was the prime example of bedhead, and her fringe was still wavy from the wedding the night before. In the light coming through the window, he could see roots of chocolate brown coming through. He knew the black was not natural. No one with such ghostly pale skin could have naturally black hair such as hers, but he liked it. He wondered what her hair looked like naturally, but he was fond of the black. He had always been attracted to dark-headed women—especially when their eyes were a drastically different color. Callie's were blue, and depending on her mood, could be quite striking. She did not remotely look at all like Tig, but Chibs thought that with the eyes and hair, she could pass as one of his own. In any case, no one would question it.
Chibs settled his pounding head on the pillows and watched her for a moment. His eyes trailed over her pale skin, the occasional freckle along her neck, and the almost faded scar on her temple. She was littered with scars. Chibs noticed this one night. They were bored, and found themselves making slow, passionate love before they called it a night. Her forehead and hip bore the scars from her wreck, and her hands had tiny scars across the knuckles and down to the wrist. Of course, the undersides of her arms matched his. Rips and tears of heartache. Cries for help. For relief. He wished he had met her a long time ago. He could not have been saved from his bad habits, but she could have. He was forever grateful they met when they did, or he would have never gotten to know his wonderful Old Lady, and she would have taken her life in Seattle. That ate at him every day, knowing she had fallen so low. He would never let her fall like that again.
Chibs kissed her forehead. He could see the very corner of the Gaelic inked into her skin and smiled. He was always drawn to the tattoo when it was visible, and now that the weather was warmer, Callie proudly showed it off. Regardless of what it meant, it was still a cool piece, and against Callie's hair, eyes, her clothing choices and her bike, she was just as sexy as she was intimidating. At least, to him. He did not care what anyone else's opinion was. Callie did not always agree with him. She would roll her eyes and change the subject, but he did not always agree with her opinions of him, and she showed him endless affection. When most looked at him, he could catch them immediately tracing the carvings in his cheeks with their eyes. Callie's eyes always went straight to his eyes. She only ever paid the scars attention when they were in the bedroom or in a heated moment. She kissed them like a mother kissing a child's injury, as if kissing the boo-boo would make it better. It made his eyes water every time. They were not gestures of pity, or gestures of love regardless of his facial flaws, they were just simple kisses of love. He could not feel it when she kissed the one on his right. The nerve damage had been too extensive, but he could feel the warmth of her face. Her nose pressing into his cheek bone. The faintest whisper of a kiss on the dead scar. Attention to either side made him melt.
He paid her arms the same amount of love and attention. He would kiss them in the privacy of their bedroom, in the comfort of her arms. A gesture of the love she was deprived of when her ex-brothers took her fiancé away. A way of telling her he would be there when she felt the need arise. A way of saying "no more." Althea had attempted to bond with him over scars. Immediately laying an unwelcome hand on his cheek, making him feel like an oddity. She did not know why they were there and would never understand or be able to remedy the heartache and pain he had experienced. There was no connection, regardless of her gunshot wound. He had a few of those, too. So what? It was not the same as the secret none of his brothers knew about. His scars were so faded that even in a wifebeater, no one noticed the abuse he had inflicted upon himself. He and Callie were already friends at the point when Juice found her scars. As club President, and as a friend, he felt it was his responsibility to make sure she was okay. These scars they could bond over, because he knew exactly why she did it. They made her feel self-conscious, and he did whatever he could to bring her self-esteem back up and let her know just how beautiful he believed she was, as she had done for him.
Chibs shifted, reaching an arm around her head to hold the hand that was raised. Her fingers moved slightly at his touch. He closed his fingers around hers, his hand encompassing them. He often overlooked how small she was in comparison to him. Even Kerrianne had a few inches over her. Her presence—her energy, was much bigger. It was only when she was asleep, or any time he got to hold her that he remembered. As big as her presence was and as hard as she fought—as truly dangerous as she could be, Chibs could see her fragility, and it made him all the more protective of her. She always jumped in front of him, defending him and the club, but he would never think twice about jumping in front of her.
He dipped his head down to her pillow and pressed his forehead to her scarred temple. He reached his free hand around her and closed his eyes, lightly kissing the apex of her cheek.

"Morning, baby," she murmured.

He smiled and opened his eyes to be greeted by groggy blue.

"Mornin', darlin'," he spoke, immediately feeling his throat scream in protest.

Callie smiled at him as he let go of her hand to run his fingers through her hair.

"I think this is the longest it's been in a while," she said, looking up through her eyebrows to watch him let choppy pieces slide through his fingers, "Probably should get it trimmed soon."

Chibs frowned. He honestly did not care what his Old Lady did with her hair. He knew well enough that women would do whatever they pleased, despite whatever he thought, but he liked it.

"I don't know," he said softly, "Why not just let it go? See what happens?"

Callie shrugged and sat up.

"Summer's coming. Besides, I keep it short for a couple of reasons," she replied.

Chibs propped his head on his elbow and watched her bare backside, the vibrant red of the roses on her back keeping his attention.

"Why?" he asked curiously.

Callie looked down at him over her shoulder.

"So I can fit my head in a helmet, for one thing," she said.

Chibs smiled. She had a point.

"And so, when I get into a cat fight, they have nothing to grab," she finished.

Chibs laughed. He had a feeling that really was one reason.

He sat up, his head throbbing as he righted himself. He ignored the pain, took her chin between his fingers, and kissed her softly, forgetting the pain, if just for a moment. When they parted, she took him by surprise when her hands when straight to his cheeks and forehead, concern written on her face.

"You're really warm, Filip."

He frowned.

"Are you feeling okay?" she asked worriedly.

He shrugged.

"Just my allergies actin' up," he replied.

She did not seem satisfied by that.

"Yeah, probably from being at that wedding. A lot of pollen and shit flying around," she agreed.

He just nodded and watched her get up. He could not help watching her walk to the dresser, wearing nothing but a pair of black panties. As soon as they returned from Ratboy and Brooke's wedding, they finished what they had started in the shower before falling asleep, sated and exhausted. She had gotten up once to use the bathroom, then threw something on before returning to bed. He was too out of it to notice what it had been until now. If his head was not making him nauseous, he would have pulled her back to bed.
Callie grabbed a sports bra from her underwear drawer, put it on, then pulled on a muscle tank before turning back to him.

"Let's go. Get your ass in the shower," she ordered.

Chibs rolled his eyes and fell back into the sheets, too tired and feeling too sick to move.

"The hot water will make you feel better. Come on," she said.

Chibs covered his face with the comforter stubbornly.

"Chibs!"

"I don't wanna," he whined.

Suddenly, she grabbed his ankles and he found himself sliding off the bed. He slid to a heap in the floor, sheets falling over his head. Callie swiped his head clear and yanked him to his feet. He smiled through the dizzy haze.

"Shower," she said sternly.

"Yes, sweetheart," he said, giving up.

She smiled and kissed his overheated cheek before steering him towards the door.

"I'll get your clothes," she said.

He stood still as he watched her return to the dresser and choose an outfit for him. He smirked.

"Ya can join me, ya know?" he said.

She ripped a pair of faded jeans from the drawer and handed them over with a gray t-shirt and boxers. She smiled up at him and patted his chest.

"Take your shower. I'll make breakfast," she said.

He smiled gratefully and kissed her forehead before finally obeying. His Old Lady was small, but he had forgotten how strong she was. He knew better than to disobey, and besides, he felt like shit. He would let her baby him today.