Alexi sat at the kitchen table glowering at it. Happy was on the other side slouching back in his chair watching her. She hadn't said anything in the last five minutes and honestly wasn't going to. "Lex." Happy began, leaning for andresting his elbows on the table. Alexi sat back putting more distance between them. "They need me up there." She could tell by his tone he was growing tired of her silence. She wasn't ready to talk yet. If she said something now she'd lose her shit. Happy had to go back up to Tacoma for an indefinite amount of time to help the club, and he was leaving tonight.

The gorgeous brunette licked her lips and tapped her nails on the table. Her big green eyes met the dark ones staring at her from across the table, she opened her mouth and all that came out was a an angry scoff. She shook her head and was on her feet in a second; walking quickly away from him.

The brunette stumbled down the steps taking them two at a time and strode across the back yard the wet grass making her legs cold. Trying to put as much distance between her and happy. Sheshouldn't be mad at him, shouldn't feel any anger at all but she did, she had a wholelot of anger in her heart at that moment. Anger at Happy, Jax, and the club. She had become so used to him being around, she had forgotten about the downside to the club. She had forgotten what he did, how good he was at his job that other charters needed him to kill for them.

The runs were a constant, Alexi had no problem with those. didn't have a problem with any of it until now. With Happy pushing to get married quickly (which was fine with her she was excited about, finally marrying the man she loved.)It meant she had to really plan out the wedding, iron out details and contact venues and Caterers. That didn't exactly fit into her already busy schedule of teaching, her school work, tio marcus's shop, and watching the nieces and nephews... it was starting to pile up and overwhelm her. Not to mention, Happy was no help with planning the wedding. Now he was leaving. which meant he would really be of no help to her it also meant they wouldn't be speaking. she wouldn't be able to see him and didn't know when she would see him. A small part of her wondered if this was him breaking things off with her. He'd done it before. That made her stomach churn thinking about it.

The gorgeous brunette shook her head and picked up her pace ignoring happy calling after her. But he wouldn't do that right? He loved her and wanted to marry her. Yeah, but he said all that stuff before as well. this time he had asked her to marry him. Maybe this WAS him getting cold feet? Alexi shook her head more trying to clear it of these thoughts. That were circling her mind like vultures.

The brunette ran faster, her long legs carrying her farther from the problems behind her. She kept going, too, in her head to think about anything else. When she finally did stop she found herself in the middle of town, head no more clearer than when she left the house and Happy. They needed to talk about this. But why? It's not like she got an actual say in it. Its not like he would be able to stay if she told him she didn't want him to go. The only reason the man wanted to talk was to make sure she would be right with it. Which she wasn't.

Even though he wasn't much of a help with this wedding planning bullshit it was still a comfort to her to have him there. To rant about her mother and gemma being ridiculous. It was nice having him as a soundingboard. Alexi kept walking. she had to get her mind right. This was the club. she was used to this, her father, people she loved most leaving when she needed them most. She shouldn't be throwing a fit, but she wasn't she reasoned with herself. She was trying to get right with it, trying to get her thoughts in order. That's what she was doing. The gorgeous brunette let her legs take over and carry her wherever they wanted to go. She needed a quiet place to think, to reason with herself. A place where happy wasn't staring her down waiting for an answer.

Out of breath, Alexi looked around and smiled to herself. She was standing across the street from a small catholic church on the edge of town. She, like her cousins and the rest of her family was brought up in the church. Her mother and Tia were devout catholics, going to every mass they could. When she was younger they always had fish on fridays. even if it wasn't Lent. Alexi could name almost all of the saints if she sat down and tried hard enough. her sisters and brothers were altarservers. (kids who sat around the alter and helped the priests and the monsignor through the mass.) Her family confessed every week, she had helped bring up the offerings once or twice. Her tio and step dad sometimes read psalms during the mass.The whole nine. She often found comfort in the church, would take that time and think resolve what needed to be resolved, instead of listening to the priest.

That would get her in trouble with her mother who would notice her not paying attention and punish her as soon as they got home, making her read from thebible and then tell her what the importance of that night's mass was. Alexi liked that better anyways most of the priest in their perish thought they were so funny and clever always sucking up to her because of who her family was. Not the older priests though, they treated her like everyone else calling her out when it was needed. She liked the older priests. She had a favorite who had taught her some latin because he was still set in the old ways of the church. But that's neither here nor there, those priests were dead and the old way was almost pushed out the door. She didn't have much of a view on religion, wouldn't sit down and discuss christ with anyone. But being in church always made her calm.

The gorgeous brunette crossed the street and entered the holy building. She stopped on the threshold, letting her eyes adjust to her dark surroundings before moving forward. It was quiet, no mass right now She smiled at that, she really needed the space and quiet for her thoughts. Instinctively, she dipped two fingers in the holy water that sat in a glass bowl on a marble pedestal by the door and blessed herself. father, son, holy ghost. Forehead breastbone shoulder shoulder and walked up the aisle.

She stopped at the last pew, kneeled quickly and slid into the pew scooting across it to the other side. Once she sat down the brunette leaned back and closed her eyes sorting out her thoughts.

Happy stared at his girl, waiting for her to speak. They had been in the middle of dinner and he had to tell her. He was needed up north for a while to do a job. She hadn't said anything, hadn't reacted. He had watched as she drank in his words then shut down at the rest. she stopped eating and leaned away from the table and most likely him. He watched her beautiful eyes grow darker and darker as she stared at the table in front of them. His girl wouldn't look at him, only when he moved forward did she move sitting further back in her chair. He was growing tired of this, he just wanted to spend the night with her. he didn't want to fight.

He sat up when she opened her mouth and her big bright eyes connected with his but the only sound she made was an angry scoff. She was on her feet shaking her head in an instant and out the door a second later. He could hear her boots pounding down the porch stairs. What the fuck? Happy followed calling after her. The only thing that did was make her move faster away from him. He followed her for a while running after her until she was full on sprinting away. He was a fast man, but his girl was faster. Impossibly fast. The tall man growled and turned back and jogged back to his house.

Two hours of searching and calling had turned up nothing. Not a goddamnthing. No one knew where she was no one had heard or seen her. Juice couldn't find anything and her family in Oakland hadn't heard from her. Michael suggested looking in a church, saying she always went there as a kid when she needed to clear her head. That was laughable, Alexi wasn't religious, she never talked about church or went to church. so he ignored that. They were no fucking help. He was irateat this point. He knew she had shut her phone off. Instead of her phone ringing it had gone to voicemail. If she wanted to be like this then fucking fine.

The man had returned to his home and stormed up to his room, he grabbed his duffle and started shoving his clothes he would need into it. After he was done he sat on his bed his elbows propped on his knees and waited. THinking about his girl and how fucking angry he was at this point. This was their first fight since he asked her to marry him. She had done good, kept her promise letting him take the lead on everything. Everything except the wedding. After another hour he realized she wasn't coming home so picked his duffle up and made his way downstairs. He started his bike and backed it down the driveway stopping when he saw legs dangling from the oak tree in their front yard as he passed by it. He knew those long toned tanned legs, having had them wrapped around him more times than he could count.

The man turned his bike off and moved quickly to the tree, his anger building. He looked up and sure enough there was his girl staring down at him. "I went to church, I had to think." Alexi stated watching him carefully. "Couldn't fucking tell me that?" He growled balling his hands into fists. The gorgeous brunette sighed and looked away from him. "How is it when you need to think it's okay for you to go off on hours on end, but.. " Happy growled and grabbed her ankle tugging on it. Alexi held tight to the branch she was sitting on and glared down at him.

"That's different." He interrupted,glowering at her. "How? ¿Cómo es jodidamente diferente? (how is it fucking different?)You just up and fucking leaving and I can't have some fucking time to wrap my mind around it? ¿De repente tiene que estar bien contigo desapareciendo por meses? (Just suddenly have to be okay with you disappearing for months?) Like how do I know this isn't you just backing out? Tal vez you fucking jumped back to Tacoma because no querías estar conmigo más?" (Maybe, you didn't want to be with me anymore?) She spat venomously her eyes drilling holes into his.

Her words punched right through his anger. He hadn't thought that she would look at it like that. His face softened and he frowned shaking his head. "no es así." (It's not like that.) He said looking back up to her. Alexi scoffed and pulled her legs to her. "Fucking feels like it. All of a sudden you're just needed up north. no te creo. I don't! You fucking hurt me ON PURPOSE. You did all of it on purpose! all of it!" She shouted as she jumped down from her perch and scowled. "and I'm just supposed to believe you need to be up there?" She shouted wiping at her face. "I don't!." She pushed away from him and backed away. "Babe, it's not like that." He repeated quietly pulling her against him. She pushed back shaking her head. "Whatever, I don't believe you so just fucking go. Have fun." She said tugging at her ring. Happy pinned her to the tree and glowered. " listen to me." He hissed quietly. She looked away from him scowling. "I'm not doing that, get out of your head, mamas." She scoffed and rolled her eyes, shaking her head. in a single move she was over his shoulder as he marched her into the house. "Just fucking put me down." Alexi growled

Alexi hated this insecure part of her. This needy whiney part. the only reason she was like this was because of Happy. How he had ended things the last time. She had got in her head to much and allowed this to distort everything. She hated it. This wasn't her, she wasn't jealous or insecure. The gorgeous woman sat against her bed in the dark, her chin resting on her arms. This wasn't her. but how could she know. She'd have to trust him. but really, after everything that they had been through this last year he wouldn't just dip out. He would have done it before. The gorgeous brunette huffed and rested her head against her knees. "get out of your head, lexi." She loked up frowning at her man who had just entered their room. Alexi huffed and rolled her eyes. Her man came to her and pulled her off the floor holding her tightly to him. "Its not like that Alexi," Her man said running his hands through her hair. The girl just stared at him. He held her jaw in his hands and kissed her, wanting her to kiss him back. She didn't, she pulled away from him and crossed her arms over her chest.

"Do you even get what you fucking did to me?" She asked him quietly, looking back at him. Happy sighed and ran his hands over his face. He didn't want to go through this. "Lex, we've talked about this." He said stepping closer to her as she took a step back from him. "You don't get it do you? You fucking wrecked me." She shook her head and looked at the wall. There was a picture of her and him when they first first got together. "Babe." He grabbed her arms, holding them tightly. She looked up at him unable to keep her tears from falling. Happy wiped them away and hugged her tightly. "Mamas, I love you. I'm going up for a couple weeks then I'll be back. I'm not leaving you." He muttered as his girl sniffed and hugged him, burying her face into his shoulder. He felt her tears dampen his shirt and held her tighter. "Mamas." He said softly. "You always leave when I need you." she whimpered. happy sighed and rest his chin against her head. he wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug and rubbed her back. he didn't know what to say to that. he knew she wasn't having an easy time. between school, planning the wedding, planning the wedding with Gemma and her mother, and working. he knew it was overwhelming but after this "mission" he would be around to help. "mamas I know it's not easy right now. but after this I'll be around for a while." he muttered in her hair. alexi sniffed and huffed out a breath. he bent so they were at eye level. she huffed again and looked away trying to keep from crying.

"I just don't see how you can say that, hap. spring break is coming up and you guys always go on charity runs and there's bike week. i just don't see how you can say that." her man sighed then stared at her. as if saying you know what you signed up for. "I do know what I signed up for hap but i at least thought I would have your help and I don't. I don't have any help and I feel like I'm drowning. don't say I have the club or Gemma, or my mom. the club Is tied up with their issues. all Gemma and mom do is fight about the wedding." she complained. her handsome man sighed then rubbed his hand over his face. "what about your sisters and your cousins?" Alexi bristled "they want to make it their own. they don't listen." he nodded and kissed her forehead. "what about your tía? she helped you with the dress..." he trailed off as he looked down at Alexi. she shrugged

happy knew what his girl needed. she needed to relax. he lit candles in the bathroom and turned the bath on then lit candles in their bedroom while Alexi watched from their king bed. he went back to the bathroom to the linen closet. that's where Alexi kept the bath oils, the Epsom salts, the bath bombs and the bubblers. he looked for the stuff the made bubbles. he got some of everything and then started pouring what would be poured into the bath water. he knew she liked the smell of lavender when she was stressed out. he grabbed the lavender oil

he walked back to the bed amd smirked at Alexi who was on her phone. she was sprawled out across the bed with her feet crossed behind her. in her panties her pants thrown across the room on the floor. happy stripped down to just his boxers then climbed on the bed behind his girl. "mamas." he muttered and sat down. he grabbed her ankles and pulled her to him til her ass was in his lap. he squeezed both ample cheeks appreciatively. his beautiful green eyed girl laughed and swatted at his hands. he flipped her over staring at the boy short underwear his girl was wearing. they were white covered in green little dinosaurs. he looked up to his girl who was watching him with a bemused expression. "see something you like, hap?" he licked his lips then looked back to her panties. "mamas take these off." his girl grinned at him and she raised her eyebrows. "why?" he smirked and rolled his eyes at her. "because I said so." he responded.

he carried her to the bath then set her down. "get in I forgot something." she nodded and watched as he left the room. happy jogged down to the kitchen and looked in the freezer for champagne or liquor. they only had whiskey which would had have to do. he grabbed whiskey tumblers and the whiskey then jogged back up the stairs.

Alexi woke up the next morning she was alone in bed. she knew he probably left either as soon as she fell asleep or at dawn. she rubbed her hands over face then checked the time it was close to ten thirty. the sleepy curly headed mess grabbed her phone off the night stand Cali had texted her asking if she was still coming down to San Bernardino to stay while Happy was in Tacoma. Alexi grinned as she swung her legs out of bed. she texted her friend that she was but she had to make a last minute arrangement before she got on the road. after sending that text she. got out of bed and went to the closet. she grabbed a duffle then she dialed Neeta's number. while the line rang she stared at her clothes figuring out what to take with her. finally on the fourth ring Neeta answered.

"Hello?

"Hey Neeta it's Alexi. how are you?

"Lexi. I'm good.

"great I was wondering if you could do me a favor and watch meeko and flit for me?

"i suppose I can but why?

see I'm going out of town for a little bit."

so just come over like normal? like. when you and Mr . Lowman are working?

"basically, yeah.

"i can do that im also running errands for miss Gemma.

okay I mean it shouldn't get in the way of anything.

alright when you leaving?

within the hour.

okay I'll be over to give them dinner then.

thank you so much neeta."

Alexi checked her phone and to make sure she had the address right before walking up to the house. When she was sure she got it right she walked up the porch and knocked on the big mahogany door and waited. It was opened moments later by cali who beamed at her.

"HEY!" the blonde exclaimed hugging her tightly. "thought you had chickened out or something." the blonde said pulling her into the house. "No i just took my time." the brunette said shrugging. Cali grinned and nodded at her okay you can set your bag in my room then you can meet the family." the blonde said tugging her upstairs. Alexi shook her head and shouldered her battered duffle following the blonde up the hug marble staircase. "This was mommy's parents house now its hers." Cali said over her shoulder. Alexi nodded looking around at the extravagant upstairs. white on white on white. Mommy came from money apparently. Cali opened door at the end of the hall and went in. The brunette followed and stopped looking around the room was huge. everything in it looked expensive. Here do you want to take a shower or something?" The blonde asked sitting on er big canopy bed.

Alexi shrugged. "Do I need to"? Cali smirked and shrugged back at her. "Do you feel like you need to?" Alexi rolled her big green eyes in annoyance. "Girl be you do you get comfortable." Cali said grinning alexi huffed and kicked her boots off. "I'll shower. hand me some clothes out of my bag." The brunette stated unbuttoning her pants and pulling her shirt off her. Cali nodded and pointed to a door in the corner of the room. "bathroom is in there use whatever." Alexi nodded and crossed the room shaking her head at the crazy bathroom. It matched the rest of the house. Fully naked now alexi hopped in the shower and turned it one enjoying the waterfall shower head. Ten minutes later she was done and fully cleaned.

The brunette wrapped herself in a big fuzzy towel and came out of the bathroom. cali had gone through her entire bag and set out clothes on her bed. Here wear this." Cali said coming back in the room. Alexi squinted at her and nodded at her clothes spread out over the bed. "Oh I wanted to see what you brought with you." Alexi shook her head crossed to the bed. "YOu wanted to see what you could borrow is what you mean." Alexi said taking the clothes Cali was holding and put them on. Alexi pulled on army green biker jeans, a white scoop neck tee shirt with watermelon over each breast. It had slits up the sides and the middle of the back cut out . Alexi slipped on white ankle socks and stepped into her tan tims before checking herself out in the full length mirror. She smirked at her outfit and adjusted her engagement ring.

"I'm going to do my make up then I'm ready." The brunette said to the blonde who was checking her phone or taking a picture of her, she could never be sure with Cali. "I'm surprised Happy okayed this, and that's fine with me." Cali said smirking at her phone. Alexi groaned and rolled her eyes as she grabbed her makeup bag. "What? I saw that eye roll are you guys on the outs again?" Cali asked following her the lit up vanity in the corner of the room. "First of all I go where I want to go. Secondly, he's been called back to Tacoma for an undetermined amount of time." The green eyed brunette stated looking over her shoulder as she sat down in front of thebig lit up mirror. "Oh girl cut the attitude! Are you serious? What about the wedding?" Alexi frowned tying her hair back from her face and misted it with primer. "I'm just tired of talking about him. Seriously, cheri I don't even fucking know." The gorgeous girl said with an eye roll as she started doing her make up.

"How'd you react when he told you? I know you've been stressing over everything." The green eyed girl looked at her friend through the mirror then concentrated back on blending her makeup. "So he told me over dinner like just dropped it in the fucking conversation. I just shut down honestly. Even though he doesn't help with planning, he's a great sounding board. I just got up and left sat in a church for about an hour then thought some more in that big oak tree in our front yard." Alexi muttered filling in her eyebrows. "Are you serious? you just left?" Cali asked with a laugh. The brunette nodded then started working on her eyeliner. "I needed to sort through my thoughts so I left." Cali smirked as she picked some lint off her shirt, flicking it onto the floor before looking for more lint to pick off. "I would have fucking lost my mind. Does this push back your wedding or are you continuing to plan like normal?" Alexi sat back in her chair inspecting her makeup before spritzing her face with setting spray.