Happy leaned against the seat of his bike, the group of Sons parked alongside the semitrailer filled with high end vehicles. They were at a filling station halfway home from their destination in Canada. The auto delivery service had been hit several time while making the trip, fancy cars stolen and sent over seas to black market traders.
"Yo, Hap." The new prospect sauntered over with a bag of bottled drinks and snacks. "Thirsty?"
"Water." He replied with an outstretched hand.
He watched the kid fumble with the plastic sacks, his hand shaking as he gave Happy a sweaty bottle of water.
"H-here."
His eyes never leaving the cement before he shuffled off to another group of Sons.
"The fucks his deal?" Happy cracked the bottle and took a long gulp as Tig joined him.
"Donut was regaling the boys about the good ol' days with the Tacoma Killer."
Happy smirked, his eyes going to the large trailer of shiny vehicles. "What, glorified security guard ain't scary enough?"
Tig chuckled bumping his elbow with his. "Don't worry brother, he told them about that Russian you took apart in Reno back in the day. They won't be lookin' you in the eye for years."
Happy grunted in response, his memories of Reno were a little cloudy seeing as it happened during Harlowe's long absence from his life. A lot of those years were just memories of vivid splashes of red and feelings of visceral rage. He was missing a huge part of himself while Harlowe was away. That absence had him embedding himself deep in the club life, deeper than any body he ever hid.
"What's up, brother?" Tig inquired as Happy stayed silent. "You usually revel in that shit."
"We went to the fertility doc." He rasped while popping a toothpick in his mouth to chew anxiously. He rocked his jaw at the sharp pain the statement caused, his chest aching from the sorrow of it.
"What they say?"
Happy shook his head in response, glaring off in the distance. He didn't want to even voice the news. All he could picture was Harlowe's protective walls falling in place as the doctor explained how unlikely they were to conceive naturally. The following speech about fertility treatments and surrogacy went in one ear and out the other, his only focus was the numbness consuming his old lady.
"Might be for the best." Tig offered when Happy didn't explain further, cupping a flame to light a another cigarette.
Happy turned his heated gaze to his brother and growled, "Fuck you."
"I'm just sayin'." Tig shook his head sadly, sucking a deep drag from his smoke before he exhaled, "take it from me, brother. Brought me nothin' but pain."
Happy could see the hurt in Tig's watery gaze, the man's mind on the two daughters he'd once had. One murdered by rivals and the other cut ties from her father's life and all the danger it brought.
"Maybe." Happy's eyes dropped away and he looked back at the road leading towards their destination. "Never know."
"Hold on." Harlowe huffed as another ring of the doorbell splintered through the house. "I'm coming."
First checking the peephole, Harlowe found a woman in a pant suit and a small child standing on the porch. She frowned at the sight before pulling the door open, her eyes on the woman before dropping to the kid. The little boy was no more than seven years old. He wore a pair of worn jeans and a plain blue T-shirt, his dark hair clipped into a buzz cut. She couldn't get a look at his face, the child's eyes firmly glued to the ground.
"Is this Mr. Happy Lowman's residence?" The woman asked dryly, her finger pushing her glasses up after she looked away from her clipboard.
"Who're you?" Harlowe asked in response, her arms crossing defensively over her chest.
"My name's Debra Stuart, I'm with the State of California's Child Services Department. I'm looking for Happy Lowman."
Harlowe's throat tightened at the statement, her eyes falling to the kid standing stiffly next to the woman.
"He's not here..." She croaked, pulling the door open wider. "Do you wanna come in? I can find out where he is."
"Sure. Come on, Jack." Debra murmured, her hand on the child's shoulder.
Harlowe couldn't seem to swallow passed the lump in her throat, the obvious meaning of the visit of a child services worker. She couldn't help but feel a shot of pain run through her chest at the idea of Happy having some unknown child with some other woman. After everything they'd just gone through, to feel even more inadequate was unhinging.
"Have a seat. Um.. would you or...Jack like something to drink?" Harlowe stumbled over the question, her eyes flickering to the kid but still unable to make out his face.
"No thank you, I just need to speak with Mr. Lowman."
"Okay." Harlowe grabbed her cell phone and called Happy's burner. It went straight to voicemail, meaning he was still on the road for the afternoon. Harlowe chewed her lip waiting for the message to stop before she spoke, "Hey Hap, um.. can you call me when you get this, or maybe just come home.. everything's fine, I'm good, just need you to come home as soon as you can."
She hung up the phone and chewed her lip, her eyes on the pair sitting on their sofa.
"Can you tell me what this is about?"
"I'd prefer to talk to Mr. Lowman, if he would like you present when I do..."
"Okay, I get it." Harlowe muttered, sitting down on the chair across from the sofa. She dipped her head a bit to see the child's face but he seemed determined to not look at her.
"How old are you Jack?" Harlowe asked.
"He doesn't speak much." Debra explained, her eyes on her cellphone as she typed. "A god send after the kid I had last week."
Harlowe frowned at the statement and decided to see if she could get at least a glance from the boy.
"Are you hungry Jack? I have some really good snacks, I even got cookies."
The statement had his chin lifting from his chest and the air leaving Harlowe's lungs. There wasn't a doubt in her mind that the kid sitting on her sofa was Happy's son. The stoic expression alone was straight from her old man's repertoire but it was the dark piercing eyes that clenched her chest.
"Do you like chocolate chip?" Harlowe rasped, clearing her throat awkwardly. "And milk?"
Jack nodded his head, his eyes flicking to the woman sitting next to him.
"Sure. Whatever." She muttered, her fingers still typing on her phone.
Harlowe stood and moved towards the kitchen, her mind racing at the revelation. She was placing the plate and glass on the coffee table when the sound of two motorcycles approaching caught her ear.
"I'll be right back." She muttered before meeting Happy at the front door. She could tell he was worried, his eyes jumping to her as he removed his helmet.
"You okay?" He asked, glancing at the car which had government plates. "Pigs?"
"I'm fine." She shook her head, glancing at Tig, "You can go."
"Doll.."
"I said go." Harlowe growled, her fist clenching anxiously. She looked at Happy and spoke lowly, "this is personal shit."
"Go, bro. I'll text if I need somethin'." Happy rasped, rising from his bike and approaching Harlowe. She felt stiff and unsure how to tell him what was waiting inside.
"What's going on?" He rumbled, glancing at the doorway.
"Just..." Harlowe shook her head, before turning around.
"Lowe." Happy called after her, bringing her eyes to his over her shoulder. "We good?"
"C'mon." She muttered, stepping back into the house to the living room where everything was about to change.
Happy could feel the tension in the air as soon as he pulled up and seen the pensiveness in her eyes. Now that he was stepping inside their house, all he could feel was a heavy sense of foreboding.
Harlowe stood near the living room entrance, her eyes on a woman and child sitting on the sofa. Happy's brow furrowed at the sight, his befuddlement obvious on his face.
"Mr. Happy Lowman?" The woman asked, standing from her seat.
"Yeah." He rumbled carefully. "The hell is this?"
"I'm Debra Stuart, I'm from the California Child Services department."
"And?" He grunted, his eyes flicking to the kid sitting with his eyes on the floor.
"This is Jack Dovers. You were listed on Jack's birth certificate..." Debra began before Happy interrupted.
"No." Happy growled, her words causing a sudden bubble of anger to rise up inside him. They'd just gotten some of the worst news, past mistakes would only make it worse. The last thing he wanted was something else causing his old lady pain.
"Hey, uh how 'bout I take Jack out on the patio while you two talk?" Harlowe spoke up, her eyes glued to the kid before rising to his. He couldn't describe the emotion in her eyes but it had him pausing mid-rage.
Happy watched the kid nod before taking Harlowe's hand while his other clutched a chocolate chip cookie. They stepped outside, the sliding door close with a click.
"As I was saying."
"I heard you, he ain't mine."
"We will have to check paternity, but you were listed on the birth certificate as the father."
"Where's his ma? What's this about, money?"
"Jack's mother was killed in a car accident last week. He's been in foster care for the last few weeks when officials removed him for her care. The home was found to be neglectful."
"Her name?" Happy growled, his fist clenching at the news.
"Sara Dovers."
Happy furrowed his brow and tried to think if he recognized the name. "Where'd she live?"
"She was living in Stockton but she was from Texas. When we looked for close relatives we discovered both her parents were deceased and she was an only child. It wasn't until we received Jack's birth certificate from Fort Worth that we discovered your name."
"He was born in Texas?"
"Yes."
Happy rubbed his hand over his shaved head and thought about the last time he'd been to Texas. It'd been about seven years. Back when he was still a nomad and his skill set was loaned out across the country. It was the years of debauchery that had him fucking anything with tits and spread legs.
"So, what happens now? You need blood or some shit?"
"I have the cheek swab kit with me now, I take that to the nearest lab facilities and we will have a result in seven to ten days."
"And the kid? Where's he stayin?" Happy glanced at the patio door seeing Harlowe sitting on the porch step next to the kid. He couldn't stop the tightening in his chest at the sight. He didn't know if the boy truly was his but the idea of it was stirring up strange feelings inside him.
"Well, that's the reason I brought him with me. The foster home he was placed in was just found to be unfit."
"So you took him outta a shitty home and placed him with another shittier home."
"I didn't do anything Mr. Lowman."
"Obviously." Happy muttered.
"I don't make those decisions, Mr Lowman. I'm doing my best with what I have."
"So what, you want to just drop him in my lap? I don't know shit about kids."
"You're wife seems to be a pro."
"My old lady isn't going to want to take care of some whore's mistake." Happy growled angrily, his eyes jumping to the door as it closed loudly.
Harlowe's glare was cutting, her hand wrapped around the boy's as he looked at Happy with large dark eyes.
A cement truck could have driven over Happy at that exact moment and he wouldn't have noticed as he looked into the face of who could only be his son.
"We're gonna use the restroom and then I'll get the guest room ready." Harlowe spoke coolly, her eyes moving to the woman sitting across from Happy. "Does he have a change of clothing?"
"I have his bag in the car." Debra replied, rising from her seat. "I'll grab it and then we can go over a few details and do that swab test."
Harlowe stood still as the case worker stepped outside. She stared at him for a long moment before she spoke evenly, "I'm going to get him settled."
"Lowe, we don't have t-." Happy grumbled.
"Don't finish that sentence." Harlowe snapped, her jaw clenching as she looked down at the kid before her eyes raised to his. "We do and we will."
Happy watched as Harlowe took the boy to the bathroom before they entered the guest room. By then the case worker had taken a very thorough cheek swab from his mouth and had him sign paperwork about Jack being a temporary foster until paternity could be determined. She explained that once it was determined, if Happy was the father he could take custody of the boy or decide if he wanted to relinquish parental rights. He knew that if it was his kid, which he pretty much had no doubt that he was, there was no way he would give his kid up to a system that was so obviously fucked. Blood meant a lot to Happy, he couldn't throw that away, no matter how clueless he felt.
Harlowe pulled out spare sheets, blanket and pillow from the closet. She set the pile on the desk before moving to the sofa and removing the cushions and throw pillows. She felt the boy's eyes watching her work as she pulled on the strap causing the bed to unfold from inside the couch.
"Tada." Harlowe quipped, flashing the boy a smile. "It's like a transformer."
"Like Optimus?"
"Exactly." Harlowe smirked, spreading out the sheets and tucking the corners.
"It won't close on me?"
"Nope." She chuckled, "you're safe and sound. Promise."
"Kay." He murmured, sitting down once she had it made.
"So I was thinking about spaghetti for dinner, do you like noodles with sauce?"
Jack nodded, his eyes flickering to the doorway before they moved to the floor. She could see the stiffness in his little shoulders and the tremble in his limbs.
Harlowe glanced over her shoulder and saw Happy looming in the hallway.
"She'll call with the results." His voice was gruff, his body all hard edges filled with tension.
"You good with pasta for dinner?" Harlowe ignored his statement.
"I gotta go."
Harlowe snorted, her arms crossing, "Let me guess, you got club shit."
"I didn't think all this shit was gonna happen when I came home. They need me up north."
"Hap, they gotta have someone else to do whatever it is." Harlowe muttered, walking closer to him. "I've never asked... not once, but this time I've gotta. Please sit this one out."
"Lowe."
"Hap." She pleaded with her tone and glassy eyes, "you know it's true no matter how bad you don't wanna see it right now."
She could tell he knew exactly what she was inferring and see the resignation in his face as he looked at the boy sitting on the foldout bed.
"Please stay this one time, it's important."
Happy stood there staring at the kid for a solid minute before he pulled out his phone and turned around. His voice rumbled low and deep as he walked towards the kitchen. "Hey man, gotta sit this one out. Shits come up... no, just need a few days. I'll fill you in when I know..."
Harlowe crouched in front of Jack and dipped her head to see his familiar dark eyes. She gave him a tense smile. "He probably seems big and scary huh?"
Jack only stared back at her, his stoic expression so familiar it cinched her throat shut. She blinked back tears and cleared her throat roughly.
"You never ever have to be afraid here." Harlowe murmured lowly, her hand reaching out to squeeze his hand. "Promise."
Happy jolted awake when he heard the floor boards in the guest room squeak loudly. He'd always been a light sleeper due to his job and time spent in lock up but with a new person in the house, a kid no less, Happy was on edge.
Glancing at Harlowe, he saw she hadn't been woken. He smirked at the sight of her curled on her side, her hand tucked under her cheek.
Happy climbed out of bed and slipped out of the bedroom, his gun in hand and ready. He trailed the wall closely, peeking into the bathroom before reaching the open guest room door. Finding the room empty, Happy moved quicker through the house looking for Jack. He swept the living room and kitchen only to come up empty handed.
He felt his heart kick up as the seconds passed, the idea of someone taking him or the kid leaving on his own filling his head. He remembered the tiny shape of him cowering on the bed as he stood in the doorway. Happy knew he was scary, it was good for business but something inside him felt cracked and raw at the idea of the boy being afraid of him.
Happy checked the security alarm and noted that it was still set, the boy hadn't left the house. Doubling back, Happy entered the guest room and opened the closet door. Finding nothing, he glanced at the bed and noticed the wet sheets.
"Shit." He muttered, his eyes going to the dark shadow below the mattress. Crouching down on his knees, Happy ducked his head to see under the fold out mattress.
"Hey kid." Happy rumbled, making a concerted effort to sound unthreatening.
Jack stayed silent, his eyes pinned to the small quilt he'd dragged under with him.
"You have a bad dream?" He asked, grasping at straws. Happy huffed out a breath of frustration when the boy didn't respond. He scrubbed his eyes and almost gave up to wake Harlowe when the boy finally made eye contact. He could clearly see the fear in the little boy's face. His chest twisted so tightly he couldn't draw breath.
"You don't gotta be scared." He rasped softly, dipping his head to catch his gaze again. "I ain't mad 'bout the sheets, no big deal. Just gotta toss them in the washer. Stay here, I'll be right back."
Happy took care of the laundry before grabbing several large towels and new sheets. He brought them into the guest room and layered the towels on the dry side just in case he had another accident. He figured they'd need to get him a real bed anyways, the sofa was old and needed replacing. Shaking his head at the thought of planning like he'd be staying, Happy crouched down again and reached his hand out and waved the kid towards him. "C'mon kid. I got it all fixed up."
Jack stared for a long moment before Happy grew frustrated and growled, "C'mon, kid. Gotta sleep sometime."
When he climbed out from under the bed, Jack was stiff and shaking. It filled Happy with pure rage, not at the boy, but at whomever conditioned such a response.
"You got some other pajamas?"
At the boy's shake of head, Happy reached out his hand. "You can borrow mine I guess."
Happy got him situated and sat on the edge of the bed after giving him a fresh T-shirt to sleep in. The Samcro shirt was giant on him, the short sleeves hitting his wrists. He looked down at the boy as he curled up on his side, much like Harlowe was down the hall. He smiled a bit before looking away. He found himself talking without much idea of what he was going to say.
"You don't have to be afraid. Nothing and nobody's will hurt you here. They'd have to get through me first and that ain't happenin', got it, kid?"
Jack was stoic a moment before he nodded in agreement.
"Good." Happy rumbled, his hand hesitantly patting the boy's balled fist. "Gonna head back to bed, if you need anything come get me, a'right?"
He waited for the tiny nod before leaving the bedroom. When he slid into bed Harlowe rolled over and whispered, "everything okay?"
"Had an accident, got him squared away." Happy mumbled, rubbing his eyes before he spoke. "What if he's mine?"
"He's yours, babe." Harlowe muttered, her hand coming to rest on his tense forearm. "Knew it as soon as I looked into his Lowman eyes."
Happy clenched his jaw tightly before asking, "when we get the results... what happens?"
"What do you want to happen?"
Happy growled, rolling onto his side. "I don't know, that's why I'm asking you."
"Well, I guess we'll need to figure out how to keep a kid alive. I've heard they need food and water."
"You're just gonna be okay raising some other bitch's kid?" Happy growled, sitting up in bed.
Harlowe rolled her eyes and scowled, "I didn't say I'm not pissed off at you."
"So what then?" He rasped.
Harlowe sighed, sitting up against the headboard. "Look... I'm more... hurt than pissed. It's not like I didn't know you were fucking every pair of tits that crossed your path while I was inside but seeing living breathing proof of it.. it's hard and it hurts because you have a son and it isn't with me. And maybe I'm an asshole but it is easier that the baby mama isn't pounding on our front door for cash. Instead it's some sweet kid who obviously needs someone who actually gives a shit about him. What kind of person would I be if turned away an innocent kid? It's not his fault his mom's dead and his dad's a horny biker with poor life choices."
"Shuddup." Happy huffed out a laugh.
"Not a denial." Harlowe muttered through a smile, before adding. "You're lucky I love you so damn much."
"Yeah I am." He rasped, weaving his fingers through her's to pull her into his side. "So you want to be his mom?"
"I don't know." She murmured, her finger tracing his kill count delicately.
Harlowe rose up on her elbow to look down at him, her hand flat on his chest. "It's weird but when I look at him all I see is you and I just... I want to keep him safe. I don't know where he was before this but it wasn't good."
"They took him outta his mom's place and into some other hellhole. She said neglect but he's too scared to just be ignored or some shit."
"He had an old bruise." She replied.
"What?" Happy growled, his arm tightening around her back. "Why didn't you say shit, we gotta take him to the doctor."
"Easy." Harlowe comforted, her hand pressing into his chest. "I checked him over when I changed him into his pajamas."
"You did?"
"Yeah, I just... I wanted to make sure he was okay, he reminded me of the newbies inside. About a week in they all get this look. I checked him and everything. He's skinny, he needs some steady meals but otherwise he looks okay. I'll talk to Tara tomorrow, have her look him over officially."
Happy's body slowly relaxed as she talked, his hand smoothing up and down her back expressing his gratitude while comforting himself. He pressed his forehead against the crown of her head and murmured, "Thank you."
"Thank you for staying."
Happy hummed at the statement and kissed her temple. "Gonna try to stick around for a few days."
"It'd be good for both of you to get to know one another."
"Mmhm." Happy grunted, squeezing her closer. "Sleep, baby. Fuckin exhausted."
"Welcome to parenthood."