Happy Monday hope you all had a great weekend!

Chapter 36

"Mabel come back here and let me wipe your face." Kate shouted as she chased after her as fast as her eight-month pregnant belly would let her. They had just finished Christmas Eve dinner and Mabel had squirmed out of her hold before she could wipe the mess she had made out of the mash potatoes.

"I got her." Tara shouted as she grabbed Mabel as she ran past her.

"Thanks Tara." Kate said wiping Mabel's face as Tara held her. "I think she knows I can't run as fast as her so she bolts every chance she gets."

"Able was the same way when I was pregnant with Thomas. Thanks for having us all over for dinner."

"No thanks needed you have all of us in the morning." Kate replied she had agreed to host Christmas Eve for the Samcro family with Tara doing Christmas morning and Gemma doing her traditional Christmas dinner.

"Wonder what that's all about." Tara said motioning to where the men had gathered in the kitchen quietly talking, still holding onto Mabel while Kate wiped her hands off.

"Probably Clay assigning duties for Gemma's dinner tomorrow." As Kate said this, the group of men broke up Happy walking over to the two women.

"Gotta go to Tacoma." Was all he said as he passed by them on the way to the master bedroom.

"Did he just...?" Kate looked to Tara just as shocked as she was.

"Yeah." Tara said interrupting Kate. "Go, I got Mabel I'll finish cleaning her up."

Kate walked into the bedroom closing the door behind her and into the closet where Happy was hurriedly shoving clothes in his nap sack. "You have to go to Tacoma tonight?" She asked hoping she and Tara both had heard him wrong.

"Yeah."

"Hap? It's Christmas Eve."

"Yeah."

"But if you leave tonight you won't be here for Christmas."

"Tell me somethin I don't know Kate." He said still packing not looking at her.

"Hap, it's fucking Christmas."

"You think I don't fuckin know that, the god damn tree and lights are a dead giveaway." Happy said closing up his bag and heading toward the bedroom door.

"Happy wait!"

"What Kate?"

"Can't you go in the morning?"

"No gotta be there in the morning. Goin to ride all night with Chibs."

"You have a fucking family can't some else go?"

"No, Clay asked me."

"What about Mabel?"

"She's two Kate not like she's gonna remember shit."

"What about me then?"

"I don't have time for your emotional bullshit right now. We can argue about this shit when I get back."

"When are you coming back?"

"Don't know yet for sure."

"I'm due in four weeks Hap."

"Be back before that."

"How do you know that you were supposed to be here for Christmas." Kate said tears starting to form in her eyes.

Before Kate could say anything else the door was opened by Clay "You ready brother? Chibs still has to go get his stuff." Clay said walking into their room without even bothering asking for permission.

"Yeah."

"Listen Clay, I'll go Hap can stay here with his family." Tig said coming in the room.

"Is that what you want Hap stay here and play Santa?"

"Nah I'm good." Happy said giving Kate a stern look letting her know their conversation was over for now.

"You good with this Kate?" Clay asked.

"Yeah of course." Kate said swallowing the lump in her throat as Happy leaned over giving her a kiss on the cheek as he and Clay left the room. Tig mouthing sorry to her as he left.

Kate walked out if their room in time to see Happy give their girl a kiss goodbye and then leaving with Chibs.

"You okay baby?" Gemma asked.

"Yeah, I better get Mabel to bed." Kate replied grabbing a yawning Mabel from Tara. Kate managed to hold her shit together through getting Mabel bathed and to sleep, coffee and drinks with the remaining party goers, said her goodbyes as everyone packed up and left leaving Jax, Tara and their boys.

"You want me to stay and help clean up?" Tara asked.

"No, go home and be with your family I got it." Kate said picking up some scattered plates from the living room taking them to the kitchen Tara following her with her hands full as well.

"You sure, that little girl is going to be up bright and early she's so excited about Santa this year."

"I'm sure." Kate replied throwing the dishes in the sink with a loud clang storming back into the living room where Jax was sitting next to his sleeping boys, to grab more dishes. "I'm fine it's not like I haven't done this all before by myself." Shouting now. "He missed her first fucking Christmas, we weren't together for her second Christmas why not miss her third Christmas. It's not like I expected anything different this year. Just because he moved in here doesn't change the fact that he's always going to be a Son first and when the club calls he goes, doesn't matter what I think or what I want!" Kate screamed tears now falling faster than she could wipe them away. Tara going to her wrapping her up in her arms.

"Jax take the boys home I'm going to stay here for a little while." Tara said while rubbing soothing circles over her back. "It's okay Kate."

Tara climbed into bed late that night wrapping her arms around Jax. "Did you get Kate all settled down."

"Yeah she's just hurt wants her family to be together."

"I know."

"Jesus Jax what was Clay thinking sending Happy, he could have sent Juice, or Bobby?"

"I don't know I think he's testing Hap's loyalties, seeing where Kate's at with this club shit. Or it could be just this deal he's got going in Tacoma needs guys who know all the roads from there to Oakland and nobody knows them better than Happy. We just need to hang on make it through this last deal of his he's on the way out his hands can't hold out much longer."

"At what cost Jax, we've been here before I can't believe you guys voted on this after what happened last time, this drug shit does nothing but cost the club."

"Tara it will be fine no cartels involved this time. And not all of us voted it in but we know it's a means to an end. This is Clay's last hurrah then he's out and I get this club on the right track."

Kate awoke, the sun barely coming up, to Mabel screaming for her "Mama Santa, Mama Santa!" Kate after Tara had left had got the presents from Santa wrapped and under the tree leaving a trail of tinker toys from Santa leading from the tree to Mabel's room leaving a Christmas doll lying next to the sleeping child. She had then fallen into a fitful sleep and now was rubbing the sleep from her puffy eyes before calling out back to Mabel "I know baby Mama's coming."

Kate could help but smile as she got Mabel out of bed and watched as she ran down the hallway scooping up as many toys along her way as her little arms could carry. Kate chased after laughing when she got to the living room where Mabel had stopped in front of the tree her eyes glazed over in the wonderment of Christmas morning.

Kate had no problems getting Mabel ready to go to Jax and Tara's once the two year old understood that Santa had also visited their house and had presents waiting for her. Kate walked into their house, was greeted by Juice wearing a Santa hat, and was immediately embraced by Tig. "Merry Christmas Kit Kat."

"You too Tig." Kate said returning his hug then getting Mabel out of her winter jacket ushering her into the kitchen where Tara and Gemma were trying to cook while Thomas and Able where using them as human shields against the nerf gun battle they were having.

"Merry Christmas baby." Gemma called out giving Kate a big hug before scooping Mabel up asking her about what Santa had brought her. Kate glanced down at her phone when she felt it vibrate seeing Happy's name on the caller ID she hit the ignore button for the tenth time already this morning. Happy had been calling and texting all morning. Kate knew she was being childish by ignoring his calls but she was still hurting and had no desire to talk with him. He had said they could argue about it when he got back and that is what she intended to do. After silencing her phone, she started to help Tara with breakfast while Gemma sat at the table with Mabel playing with her new dolls. It wasn't long before Gemma's phone started ringing. "Morning Hap." Gemma said into the phone "Yeah they're both here hang on." Kate shook her head no, as Gemma went to give her the phone. "Hap I don't see Kate I know she's around here somewhere but your baby girl is sitting right here. Yeah I'll tell her to give you a call here's Mabel." Gemma said handing her phone to Mabel "It's Daddy." Upon hearing the word, Daddy Mabel stanched the phone from Gemma and began her excited conversation with Happy. "You going to forgive him anytime soon?" Gemma asked standing next to Kate.

"Nothing to forgive the club needed him and he went."

"Then why are you refusing his calls if there's nothing to forgive?"

"I get it Gemma the club comes first but that doesn't mean I don't get to be pissed about it. And make sure he knows that I am. I didn't throw a fit or stop him from going the club took him away from his family on Christmas but they don't get to take that hurt away from me I'm allowed that. I'm allowed to have that argument him."

"Good girl, and you thought you weren't cut out for the old lady club." Gemma said walking out the kitchen after Mabel to make sure she didn't go too far with her phone.

"I swear I never know if she's going to scold me, smack me or be proud of me." Kate said to Tara.

"Welcome to the wonderful world of Gemma. She's done all three to me more than once."

It was well after midnight before Kate got her and Mabel home Tig insisting on following her and checking the house first before he rode off into the night to god knows where. Kate had just crawled under the covers and before closing her eyes, she saw her phone light up glancing at the screen knowing it was him before she saw Happy's name flash across the screen. She held the phone in her hand, finger hovering above the answer button before she angrily pressed the ignore button then tossed the phone back on the nightstand before closing her eyes, yeah she was still pissed.

The next day was spent playing with Mabel and her new toys, and lounging around the house. By that afternoon, she still hadn't answered Happy's many phone calls finally letting the battery to her phone go dead. She had decided to start getting the babies room together while Mabel was having her afternoon nap the room was full of boxes of new stuff for the baby. Gemma had insisted on buying Christmas presents for the new baby including a crib, baby swing, clothes and toys. All these things had been delivered by Juice early that morning. She had started on washing all the clothes and now had decided to put the baby swing together knowing she wouldn't be able to do the crib by herself and figured she would leave that for Happy when he got home hoping he would get back soon just in case the baby decided to come early. She had pieces of the swing everywhere when she heard a bike pull up her heart jumping into her throat thinking it was him coming home to her but when she heard a knock at the door her heart dropped back down. When she answered it, she saw Tig standing on her doorstep.

"Hey Tig." She said letting him in.

"Your phones off." He stated as he walked in the door.

"Nope battery's dead."

She wasn't surprised when he pulled out his on phone waiting a few seconds before saying into it "Yeah she's here... Said the battery's dead... Yeah I'll tell her." Snapping the phone closed. "Said to charge your damn phone."

"Sorry he sent you all the way over here."

"Wouldn't have had to come if you'd just answer your phone for him or for me when I called."

"Sorry Tig, it's easier to ignore him when I don't see his name every five minutes."

"What the fuck are you doing?" He asked when he saw the screwdriver in her hand.

"Putting a baby swing together."

"Why don't you just wait for Hap to get home?"

"Because I don't know when he's coming home and this baby is going to come with or without him and shit needs to be ready."

"You'd know when he's coming home if you'd answer your phone and just talk to him."

"I'm not ready to make nice yet Tig."

"Alright, let's go see what a mess you've made of this baby swing." Tig said putting his arm around her as she led him to the baby room. "Kate what the fuck were you doing?" He asked as he looked at all the pieces scattering the floor.

"I was following the directions."

"Don't need no damn directions give me the screwdriver." He said as he began to take over the construction project. "Kit Kat I'm not saying you have to forgive the asshole but he was worried about you, probably wanted to at least wish you a Merry Christmas."

"He got to talk with Mabel."

"I'm not talking about Mabel I'm talking about you. He cares about you more than you think even if he won't show or admit it."

"You gave him an out Tig and he didn't take it, he still left."

"You knew he wouldn't take the out Kate. Even I did before I offered it only reason why did is so I wouldn't look like an asshole and have a pregnant chick pissed at me."

"But he could have."

"No he couldn't, Clay asked him to go. You been around long enough to know you don't say no to the Prez."

"I wasn't asking him to say no I just wanted him to be here for Christmas."

"Couldn't be helped Tacoma needed him."

"For what?"

"Not my place to tell you."

"You know what all you guys sure have a lot of advice to give but no fucking real information. Happy doesn't really tell me anything and I'm just supposed to be okay when he leaves at the drop of a hat."

"He'll tell you if he thinks you need to know. Again, I'm not saying forgive him but cut him some slack huh, all this family shit is new to him, never used to have to say shit if he picked up and left. Now what other shit do you need put together?" He asked as he tighten the last screw.

"The crib."

"Nah, I'll leave that for Dad. He'll be home the day after tomorrow." Tig said giving Kate a kiss on her head. "Just asking for some slack Kit Kat you can still be as pissed as you want, besides angry sex is the best kind."

Kate lay in bed the next night with her phone in hand thinking of calling him wondering if she had let him stew long enough. Not sure if she was still angry or not and never one to like being alone with her thoughts she had kept herself busy painting the nursery a light pastel blue lining the room with plastic and letting Mabel join in the painting of the bottom walls. She knew that Mabel would end up with more paint on herself than the walls but the little girl had been in giggles all morning and when bath time came it had taken a good hour to get all the paint off of her but she went to sleep a happy girl yammering on all day about being a big sister. Kate tossed the phone on the nightstand not sure what she'd say to him anyway and knew she would see him late the next day.

She was startled awake when she heard the front door open but relaxed when she heard the alarm being turned off and his keys hitting the shelf beside the door and the sound of his boots walking toward the bedroom. Lying on her side, she glanced at the clock that read two o'clock as he came in the room and begin to disrobe sitting on the bed to take of his boots. "Thought you'd be home later today." She said turning her head to look at him the moonlight coming through window illuminating his movements, leaving his wife beater and boxers on he climbed into bed lying on his side toward her.

"Road all afternoon and night, wanted to get home before dawn. You still mad?"

"No not really, just hurt."

"There a difference?"

"Yeah me being mad means me yelling at you as soon as your key hit the lock, and me being hurt means you don't have to sleep on the couch."

"You being hurt means you not answering your damn phone?"

"No that's mad I didn't answer or call today because I didn't know what to say."

"Most people just start with hello Kate."

"Ahhh biker wisdom so simple."

"What do you want me say Kate?"

"Nothing right now let's just get some sleep we have all day tomorrow to hash shit out." She heard him let out a sigh and felt him rollover on his back. "You know I'm fat and pregnant so you better get your ass over here cause I can't rollover." She heard a chuckle come from him and felt him rollover to her side and place his arm around her resting his hand over their unborn child.

"I'm fuckin sorry little girl."

"Tomorrow Hap, tomorrow." She said placing her hand over his.

Happy was awoken hours later by Mabel when she jumped into bed with him and crawled on top of him shouting "Daddy Santa!" When she had seen him open his eyes.

"I know Munchkin, let me wake up first then you can show me all your toys."

"Daddy now." She replied when he didn't make any movement towards getting up. "Daddy Santa!"

"Alright alright." He said scooping her off him putting her on the floor as she grabbed his hand tugging him down the hallway. Stopping when he reached the living room at the sight before him. Mabel continued to where Kate stood facing him standing next to the lit up tree presents surrounding the bottom.

"See Daddy Santa." Mabel said pointing at all the presents.

"I didn't let her open them all on Christmas figured she wouldn't know the difference if Christmas was a few days late." Kate replied as Happy made his way into the living room next to Kate handing him a cup of coffee when he reached her.

"God dammit Kate. You're..."

"Too good for you, I know." She said with a laugh as he put his arms around her kissing her cheek. "Your right she won't remember but you will."

"I don't know what to say." Happy replied amazed that she had done this for him even with how pissed she was at him.

"How about we don't say anything and just enjoy Christmas."

They watched on as Mabel opened the rest of her Christmas gifts squealing with delight as she opened each new package as they sat on the couch together. "Mabel get Daddy's gift." Kate asked when Mabel had unwrapped her last package. The little girl grabbed a small wrapped box from under the tree and then took it and handed it to Happy. "What do you say Mabel?"

"Merry Christmas Daddy." Mabel said as she crawled on the couch next to him.

"It's nothing big just thought you'd like it." Kate said in a nervous voice as he tore the paper away. It was a zippo lighter that she had purchased and had engraved.

Happy's breath caught in his throat as he turned the lighter over and read the inscription # 1 Daddy love Kate & Mabel. "I fuckin love it Kate. Thank you, for all of this." He said grabbing Mabel in his arms. "I love you Munchkin." Kissing her on the cheek.

"Lub you Daddy, you lub Mama too?"

Happy sat there staring at his little girl unable to form a response to her question glanced to Kate who luckily sensed his uncomfortableness got up grabbing Mabel's hand "Come on baby girl let's get some breakfast in you while Daddy puts your toys together."

It was well into the afternoon by the time Happy had her toys put together. Mabel was curled up on the couch next to him asleep. Kate was busy doing laundry and finishing the baby's room she was making another trip from the babies room to the laundry room smiling at the two as she passed by. "She's got the right idea." Happy said to her motioning to Mabel.

"No nap for you, you still have a crib to put together."

"Fuuuuck."

"Alright, you can take nap but that crib has to be together no later than next week. Don't want this little guy sleeping on the floor." Kate said patting her pregnant belly.

"I'll do it today gotta be back in Tacoma middle of the week." Happy saw her arms fall to her side and the smile fall from her face but before he could say anything she was storming out of the living room into Mabel's bedroom. He got up to follow her not sure what to say when he got to Mabel's bedroom as Kate was removing the clothes out of Mabel's changing table slash dresser.

"This needs to be moved too, I'm going to start potty training Mabel next week so it'll be more use in the baby's room."

"Kate?"

"I should have started in on her sooner so I could save myself the hassle of having to change double the diapers."

"Kate?"

"We also should think about getting her a big girl bed she can pretty much climb out of the crib." Never once taking her eyes away from the task at hand avoiding looking at him.

"Kate!"

"What, what do you want me to say! Why'd you even bother coming back at all if you just had to leave again in a few days?"

"Because I wanted to be here with you while I could."

"Sure, family time huh, but only when it's convenient for you!"

"Come on Kate?"

"No you come on Happy, the baby..."

"I'll be back before that."

"You don't know that what if you're somewhere between here and Tacoma and nobody can reach you. This baby isn't on some Samcro time schedule it's going to come when it wants whether you're on a run or not. I can put off Christmas for you but I can't stop from having a baby. Why do I even bother anyway our daughter asks you if you love me and you can't say it, it's three simple little words and you couldn't even manage to fucking say a one syllable word like yeah."

"Kate don't start with that shit you know..."

"No I don't know, but you know what Hap put the crib together don't put the crib together do whatever the fuck you want, that's what you always do anyway!" She shouted leaving him alone in Mabel's room his hand running over his face as he heard their bedroom door slam shut.

Thanks for reading! Again I am amazed by all your support you all are awesome!