And just like that, we're done! If you hate the openendedness, let me know if you'd rather a sequel or an epilogue! Thanks for sticking with me :-)
The past fourteen months had been some of the hardest Alex had ever lived through. Max had been teething for the past 9 months and was constantly screaming and crying if he didn't have something to chew on. Alex had admittedly given him a cloth soaked in whiskey a few nights when he stayed up screaming if he was cutting a tooth.
Every new milestone that Max had, Alex would get excited and pull her phone out to call Happy and then sadly remember that she couldn't even call him. He had to call her first or she could visit. Every small thing was recorded or photographed for Happy to watch at a later date. Their visits with Happy were nice. They would go down every week if Happy had been on his best behaviour and Max would show off all his new tricks. Happy had actually cried when Max first called him 'dada' and Alex had to admit sheepishly that they had been practicing all week. He hadn't even called her 'mama' yet but she pushed and pushed for 'dada' to be down by the weekend.
On Max's first birthday, Alex had gotten special permissions to a private room where they could have cupcakes and watch Max show off his crawling and wobbly beginnings of a walk. That had been the best day of both Happy and Alex's past 14 months. Their one year wedding anniversary wasn't even something they celebrated but they celebrated every single one of Max's accomplishments. If Alex was honest, nobody from the club except Kozik and Quinn knew they had even gotten married.
Kozik had stuck around for a while after the club got locked up. SAMCRO needed guys and Quinn had no need for him on the road, especially considering Quinn spent most of his offtime in Charming. Even after Koz got patched in, Quinn came to visit his 'favourite girl' and 'nephew'. Alex couldn't complain since Quinn was really good with Max, and sometimes she needed a break. The giant man even opted to sleep on the futon in the baby's room and took care of anything through the night.
Kozik stayed stone-cold sober through the entire thing, even if Alex thought he had a few moments where it was really close. It was about 7 months in when Alex had been woken up in the middle of the night to Herman climbing into her bed, close to tears and shaking. He confessed feeling close to relapsing and Alex had pulled him into a tight hug where he cried himself to sleep. Neither had mentioned that night, pretending as if it hadn't even occurred.
Alex's life hadn't been the only thing to change dramatically. The small town of Charming, CA was a frightening contrast from its former glory. Hale had become mayor and was building a housing development. Charming PD was shut down and replaced with a San Joaquin lieutenant named Eli Roosevelt who was a royal asshole to anyone even mildly affiliated with SAMCRO, including Alex. When she first encountered the man while at the grocery store, he had begun flirting with her. Alex wasn't stupid and had heard of the new lieutenant and his wife arriving in Charming so when he began flirting with her, she socked him. He huffed and threatened her with arrest for assaulting a police officer to which Alex had simply smiled and asked how his wife felt about him flirting with other women. That was the last she had seen of Eli Roosevelt, thank goodness.
Probably the strangest thing that had changed in Charming wasn't anything political. It was the fact that Tara and Gemma had suddenly gotten very close after being hostile towards each other as long as Alex had known them. It was strange but Alex didn't involve herself with any of it. Instead, she kept her friendships with all of the SAMCRO old ladies completely separate. Even the sweetbutts and crow eaters were friendly towards her, bringing her lunch and offering to watch Max for her. She didn't trust a lot of them to watch her son, but there were a few who she let take him to play on the play structure out back.
The week of Happy's release, Alex cleaned the house from top to bottom in order to keep her mind busy. She was anxious for him to come home, knowing how awkward it was acting as if nothing has changed. 14 months seemed excruciatingly long compared to the 9 months Hap had been inside last time. Alex ached longingly for him in ways she never knew possible, even the casual domestic things like eating pizza on the couch or forcing him to watch cheesy movies seemed orgasmic compared to being alone.
When she wasn't cleaning, Alex was working. Max joined Abel and Thomas with Neeta most days, and when he wasn't he would hang out around T-M wreaking as much havoc as his tiny body could. Happy had been right, Max was the world's tiniest shit disturber with a smile that could charm anyone into giving him what he wants.
The day the guys were released was magical. Alex was working on a car, happily back in her old jumpsuit. Max was sitting on the workbench next to her, rolling toy cars back and forth and babbling to her. Chibs had jokingly bought Max his own jumpsuit with his name embroidered on it a few months back, not knowing that Alex loved it and planned to use it whenever Max wanted to hang out in the garage.
It was actually a pretty normal day, except for the fact that Alex was giggly and excited about being able to hold Happy for as long as she wanted. By lunchtime, she was so impatient and distracted that Gemma told her to give up on work and go sit in the clubhouse, which she did. She had lunch with Max, a peanut butter and jelly sandwich for her and some bread with butter for the little one. After lunch, they played on the play structure until Max looked tired enough to crash. When she had taken him back inside, he had insisted that she read him a story. That was how Alex ended up pinned to the couch under a sleeping baby for two hours. She woke Max up when she heard all the excitement in the yard for the guy's return. Walking slowly out of the clubhouse, Max toddling in front of her, Alex smiled as she saw the reunion happening in front of her.
The guys were hugging, old ladies were crying, there were beers already being opened. It was a lot of commotion but Alex only saw one thing - Happy. He was chatting quietly with Kozik, looking tense and eager to get away from everyone. His hands were shoved in his pockets and he was pouting slightly. Kozik was definitely pulling his leg, saying that Alex and Max had gone home.
She could see the moment Happy spotted his son running towards him on semi-steady legs. He broke out into a huge smile, squatting down and catching the kid jumping at him.
Alex was laughing lightly as she walked up to her little family, hearing Max's chants of 'daddy, daddy, daddy' from far away. Kozik had disappeared as soon as Alex approached, giving them even a slight bit of privacy. Happy was speaking quietly to the kid, Max interrupting and repeating some of the words he knows after Happy says them. Max's little hands were squeezing Happy's cheeks and the little boy pressed a wet kiss to his father's mouth to which Happy laughed.
"Why don't you go find Uncle Koz?" Alex asked Max happily, the toddler cheering in response. Happy pressed a kiss to the top of Max's black hair and put him down, the kid running off as quick as his chubby legs could take him.
"Sorry, he's at an annoying stage right now. He's finally learning big words and he won't. Stop. talking" Alex laughed as she stepped closer to Happy.
"Stop acting weird. Get over here" Happy growled as he pulled Alex to him by her belt loops. She giggled as he rubbed his hands up and down her sides, savouring every dip and curve of her body. "Fuckin' missed you, little girl"
"Shut up and kiss me, Hap" Alex demanded, pulling him down to kiss her by his kutte. He happily obliged, tongue immediately snaking its way into her mouth to tangle with her own. They stood in the T-M parking lot kissing and embracing each other for a little longer than they would like to admit, especially considering they both hated PDA. Love will make you do stupid things if you're desperate enough and after 14 months of nothing, Alex was desperate like nobody's business.
Making their way into the clubhouse where everyone was crowded, Kozik and Max included, Alex and Happy were met with a bunch of stares.
"So when did you plan on telling us that you're married?" Gemma asked, eyes in slits as she glared at Alex and Hap. Lyla was hiding behind Opie, blushing profusely and looking like a kicked puppy.
Alex felt no shame, not even stuttering as she looked at Gemma with a glint in her eyes. Happy pulled her into his side, fingers absently playing with the bottom of her shirt.
"We've been married for almost two years, Gem. Not exactly like we hid it, either. It's not club business, so why does the club need to know?" Alex asked, brows raised in defiance. Gemma looked appalled at Alex's response but what was she expecting when she asked in front of the entire club? Begging and grovelling for forgiveness?
"What do you know about club business, girl?" Clay demanded, stance growing defensive. He had a cigar hanging from his mouth and he chewed on the end of it.
"I know that my marriage isn't club business, Clay" Alex smiled with no happiness behind it. Her eyes held a threat for Clay to keep coming at her in front of literally everyone.
"So if we're done with this, congratulations works" Kozik smiled, trying his best to lighten the tense atmosphere. Max giggled in his arms, clapping his hands happily.
"Aye! To Hap and Al!" Chibs cheered, glass raised in the air. The mood suddenly shifted and everyone held up their respective drinks and cheers-ed with him.
"Maybe we should have said something sooner" Happy laughed gruffly in Alex's ear and she couldn't help but smile. He was right but hindsight is always 20/20.
The rest of the evening continued like that, everyone in the clubhouse hanging out like the weird, big family they are. Juice disappeared into his dorm to play video games sometime in the evening, taking Max with him to watch which Alex was grateful for. When Juice came back out with a yawning Max in his arms, the kid rubbing his eyes sleepily, Alex accepted him and pressed a tender kiss to the Puerto Rican's cheek.
"Thanks for watchin' him, Juicey" Alex smiled, "Now go get some pussy, kid" She laughed as he grinned and winked, setting off to find some sweetbutt for the night.
"We're headin' home, wanna come?" Alex whispered in Happy's ear. He was playing pool against Chibs, leaning against the table as the Scotsman lined up his shot. He nodded and pulled Max into his arms, the boy immediately resting his head on Happy's shoulder.
"Sorry, Chibs. Your game will have to wait for another day" Alex smiled, "I'm taking my husband home so I can get laid" she winked, pulling Happy to the door as Chib's laughter roared after her.