She walks out of the bedroom, yawning. She ties her hair up before a solid mass hits her around the waist. She looks down into Rai's dark, pleading eyes, his arms wrapped around her.
"Can I have chocolate chips in my pancakes?" He begs.
"No." She automatically then frowns at him. "Wait, pancakes?" He nods, pulling her into the kitchen. Abel stands in front of the stove while Kalli and Autumn sit at the table, talking. Zane and Isaias are standing on either side of Abel, holding whisks and flour.
"Alright, mix it up good." Abel orders and Zane complies instantly. Willow is stunned into silence. Lately Zane has listened to no one but his father and the men of the club.
"Willy!" Kalli says loudly, noticing her. "Can we have chocolate chips in our pancakes?"
"No." Willow says, walking into the kitchen. "You'll put a ton of syrup on them anyway, you don't need more sugar."
"You hate us." Raimundo accuses, pouting.
"Yes, I hate you for trying to keep you out of the epidemic of childhood obesity." She shoots back.
"What's obesity?" Autumn asks curiously.
"When you're super fat." Abel answers, flipping a golden pancake.
"Like Mrs. Jones?" She asks innocently and Willow snorts.
"Her preschool teacher." She explains to Abel's confused look. "That's not very nice." She scolds Autumn, who is wide eyed.
"She is really fat." Ryder comments, walking into the kitchen in his boxers and Willow smacks him. "Sweet, pancakes. I'll go wake up the guys." He says cheerfully and Abel smiles.
"Let me guess. Some famous chef from Belgium taught you how to make the perfect pancakes." She comments to Abel.
"Belgium is famous for waffles." He corrects her, sliding a pancake onto Kalli's plate, grinning as the little girl cheers. Willow sits at the table, watching as the kids eat, complimenting Abel's cooking ability.
"What are your plans for today?" She asks then and Cruz shrugs, folding up a pancake and shoving it in his mouth.
"We're gonna go hang out with the rest of the guys." Rang says and Willow narrows her eyes. "What?" He asks, with faux innocence.
"Don't get into any trouble or I'll be angry." She threatens and they snort, clearly not scared of her. "Take Ryder." She orders.
"Yupp." Cruz says shortly, grabbing his skateboard and all three boys flee. Willow sighs then looks to Zane and Isaias.
"We're going to Toby's house." Isaias says and she nods. Their neighbor is a friend of the MC and she knows they'll avoid trouble there.
"I'm gonna hang around you." Neva says, flicking water at Kalli, who giggles.
"Me, you, and the littles." Willow says ruefully, watching as Raimundo draws shapes in his excess syrup. "Oh, joy."
"What are we gonna do today?" Autumn asks curiously, swinging her feet.
"Get you washed up, first thing." Willow says, noticing how bits of her hair are sticking her face.
"Can we take a bath?" She asks excitedly and Willow shakes her head.
"Not if you want to actually do things today." She bargains and Autumn pouts but doesn't pitch a fit so Willow's thankful for winning the small battles. She washes the girls' hands and faces then sends them on their way to change as Neva wrestles Raimundo into a change of clothes. She gathers up Abrielle's diaper bag, blowing raspberries on her stomach before changing her into light clothes. Settling her on her hip, she walks out; surprised to see Abel helping Kalli into her sandals while Autumn sits besides them, swinging her feet.
"Ready to go?" He asks her, patting Kalli's back when he finishes buckling the sandals.
"We're going to the park. Are you coming with?" She asks him, shocked.
"I promised that I would show Rai how I do a super underdog." He says nonchalantly and Rai nods seriously.
"Well, get in the car." Willow orders, glancing at Abel out of the corners of her eyes. They scurry to the large SUV, fighting over who gets to sit where. Abel puts his helmet on, revving the bike up.
"Willow, is Abel coming with us to protect us if the bad men come?" Kalli asks, kicking her feet and fiddling with her seatbelt. Willow's grip tightens on the steering wheel as the bike roars out in front of them.
"Yes, baby." She says, trying to keep her voice calm. "Cause the club protects you. Always."
"I love my uncles." Kalli says happily.
"My daddy is your uncle." Autumn says seriously and they fall into a conversation about family.
"I'm happy you think that." Neva says quietly and Willow smiles at the little girl, sliding her sunglasses down her face. When they arrive at the park, she sprays sunscreen on the kids then sets them loose. They sprint away from her, bellowing at the top of their lungs.
"Incredible." Abel says, shaking her head as Willow spreads a blanket out and sits down, plucking Abrielle out of her car seat and placing toys around her. The little girl eagerly grabs a stuffed motorcycle.
"What, the volume they can reach?" She asks, as Neva chases a screaming Autumn towards the slide.
"At least you know you'll never lose them." He decides, flinching as Raimundo rockets past, war whooping.
"Never worried about that a day in my life." She promises and Abel looks at her thoughtfully. She smiles slightly, reaching into the diaper bag and producing her book.
"Not Harry Potter?" He asks, reading the cover. "I figured you would, after last night."
"Please, I read all seven books when I was younger. I try to reread them at least once a year." She informs him and he stares at her.
"Why are you reading The Compass of Pleasure?" He asks her and she smiles at the book.
"It explains a lot of things about why we like what we like, like drugs, alcohol, and sex. Interesting read when you live around this crowd." She tells him and he raises an eyebrow, gesturing for her to toss it to him. She does so and flops down by Abrielle, grinning at her.
"It's actually pretty interesting." He comments awhile later and Willow looks at him in surprise.
"Are you actually reading it?" She asks in disbelief.
"Yes?" He says in confusion. Willow looks at him, Abrielle's toy dangling, forgotten, in her hand.
"I didn't think you'd be able to." She says flatly and he frowns.
"What does that mean?" He asks, affronted.
"Just that… The topic… You're not… I just…" She stutters, flustered and Abel throws the book back.
"I said Tommy got the brains but not all of them. My mom is pretty smart for a sober drug addict." He comments, getting up and grabbing Raimundo, asking him if he's ready for a super underdog.
"Men, baby girl." Willow says, kissing Abrielle's head. "Stay away from them. It's not worth it."
"Willow, do you have snacks?" Autumn asks, collapsing on the blanket dramatically and grabbing Abrielle's toys.
"Give that back." Willow says, tossing a fruit snack to her and then to an incoming Neva. Autumn tears hers open enthusiastically.
"Aren't those things loaded with sugar?" Abel asks, carrying Kalli around his neck as Raimundo trails after them.
"No." Willow says, frowning at him and catching Kalli as she slides down. "I'm pretty sure I would've figured it out since we only buy them in bulk." He shrugs, cuddling Abrielle.
"Just trying to make sure they don't run off at top speed." He says innocently and she rolls her eyes.
"I never expect such noble intentions from you." She quips and he heaves a long-suffering sigh.
"I don't know what I did to inspire such distrust in you." He complains and she just turns to pull sandwiches from the diaper bag so the girls stop whining. They travel from park to park, letting the kids run until they get tired of it before heading to the next one.
"This is the last park." Willow warns, parking the car and turning to look at them seriously. "So play as long as you want, but when you're done, we're going home and that's the end of that." Kalli and Autumn nod, while Raimundo appears to be sizing her up. She stares him down until he nods then unlocks the doors.
"Thank god this is the last one." Abel says, sitting on a park bench. Willow remains standing, rocking Abrielle.
"It's a pain now but trust me, when you take them home and they eat supper and go straight to bed, it's a blessing." She comments, flinching as Kalli trips running up the stairs and promptly wails. She passes Abrielle off to Abel, hurrying to pick Kalli up and set her in the step above her.
"Is it bleeding?" Kalli asks, wide eyes filled to the brim with tears and bottom lip trembling. Willow glances at her knee then shakes her head. "Is it gonna be purple?" Kalli asks and Willow nods, hugging her close.
"Tomorrow, yes. But it'll be cool. Battle scar." She reassures her and Kalli looks at it with wonder.
"Cause I'm a warrior princess?" She asks breathlessly and Willow nods seriously. Kalli nods back then gets up, hollering, "Autumn! I have a new idea! We're WARRIOR PRINCESSES!"
"That's not a thing." Raimundo scoffs.
"Sounds like the dragon is scared that the warrior princesses are going to slay him." Willow says coolly and walks away when she hears the screams of the girls running after Raimundo.
"Nice save." Abel comments, opening his own bag of fruit snacks.
"Careful. Cavities." Willow shoots back, stealing one from him.
"Don't worry, I floss." He says, unconcerned. Willow rolls her eyes and sits, reading her book. He abruptly shifts, handing her Abrielle.
"Well hello." She says in surprise, as Abrielle startles awake and begins to whine. "Thanks for the warning."
"Hello." Abel says shortly, answering his phone and pacing back and forth.
"No." Abrielle says crabbily and Willow nods distractedly, kissing her forehead, eyes on Abel.
"We'll go home soon baby girl." She promises. Abel is listening and nodding, something that Willow knows doesn't bode well. "What?" She asks, the instant he hangs up. "Something's wrong, you have the little frown line." She says, pointing to his forehead. He frowns, pushing her hand down.
"Don't joke. There's been blowback on the club for Nick. Apparently he was affiliated with some club. Chibs and Tig are trying to clear things up, but they want to talk to the people that were there." He says seriously and Willow's mind can't process anything beyond 'blowback'. She has visions of men taking a screaming Kalli away, Neva's hands bound in front of her, Ryder with a blindfold on, scared and alone. Her heart stops in her chest.
"The littles." She whispers, clutching Abrielle close. Abel grabs her face tightly, forcing her to look up at him.
"Willow, listen. Ellie and Gavin are already halfway here, they're going to meet you at Zaneta's and watch them with you. I'm going to take the kids back with you and get everyone home, but then I have to leave and ride up to the club. Let's get the kids." He says and she nods, passing Abrielle back to him.
"C'mon guys, time to go home." She calls, her voice perfectly steady.
"But we're not tired yet!" Kalli protests.
"I am." Abel says and she relents, stomping back to the car.
"Alright, lets go." Willow orders, herding them into the car.
"What's going on?" Neva asks lowly, bucking Raimundo into his seat.
"Ellie's coming to visit." Willow informs her and Neva's face lights up. Willow shuts the door and turns, nearly running into Abel.
"Nice." He says, buckling his helmet.
"It's not a lie." She argues. "She doesn't need to know the truth yet."
"Good luck getting Rang and Cruz home without telling them the truth." He says and she swears loudly.
"You two are where?" She demands loudly into the phone, making Neva snicker. "How are you at a party, its not even dark yet!" She says, outraged. "Jesus Christ, would you two listen to me for one minute? I don't give a shit if you bring the party to our house, just come home!" She orders. "THIS IS NOT A DISCUSION MICHAEL GET HOME NOW." She hangs up her phone and tosses it into the cup holder, making a noise of disgust.
"You should get dad to call him." Neva advises.
"If he's not home by the time I get there, I will." Willow says darkly. When she arrives home, she bites back the urge to use a more creative string of swearwords at the amount of bikes and skateboards in the front yard.
"Hey Wills." Rang says sassily, from the driveway. "You said I could have party, right?" She flicks his nose as she walks past.
"Gavin is getting here in less than 15 minutes, so lets see who sticks around." She hisses and he looks at her, a flicker of worry behind his dark eyes. "Now get your sister out of the car." He drops the basketball and walks for the car, catching Abel's arm on the way. Neva carries Abrielle in and Willow takes the baby, heading for the bedroom and playpen.
"Willow!" Abel yells.
"Bedroom." She calls back, changing Abrielle's diaper. He strides in, zipping up his kutte. Willow looks up at him and raises her eyebrows.
"You're leaving aren't you." She says flatly. "I'd tell you to be careful but that's a waste of time."
"Ellie should be here soon." He says, ignoring the jab. "The boys are downstairs, I told them to have their friends leave when the little kids go to sleep. Neva is watching the rest in the playroom."
"Alright." She says monotonously, finishing swaddling Abrielle and setting the little girl on her feet. She wobbles for a moment then sets out for Abel, arms in the air. He picks her up, kissing her nose.
"Keep them safe." He says quietly, his bright smile offset by his serious tone. Willow's stomach feels as though she's going to puke, so she swallows hard and nods.
"You keep the rest safe." She says thickly. He looks over Abrielle's head at her, eyes slowly growing cold. Willow stares back evenly, wondering if anyone else has ever noticed how his eyes can hold such light and are the color of the sky on a warm summer day. If they've ever noticed how when his anger takes over they shift to a deadly blue, the color of ice that will crack and plunge you into cold water. She wonders if people know that he can be different people in the same body and she's not sure which one she likes better.
He walks towards her slowly, Abrielle babbling in his arms. Willow unfolds her arms, expecting him to hand her the little girl. He does, but in one smooth movement, wraps his arms around her waist and puts one hand at the back of her neck, gently tilting it so she's looking at him.
"I'll do my best." He promises and she nods. He stares at her a moment longer then hurries away from her. She watches him through the window, as he gets on his bike and roars down the street.
"What it would be like, little one, to not worry about seeing someone again when they ride away like that." She mummers to Abrielle, kissing her head then walking into the kitchen to make supper.
AN: And a little more interaction with all the kids of the club... Plus some Willow and Abel. I plan to update Friday/Saturday, but I'll be traveling to the great land of little wifi so it may or may not happen. Let's hope. Also hopefully updated this weekend- my second SOA story, Charming Little Moments- it's a bunch of one-shots so if you like that, check it out. Thanks for reading and leave reviews?
