If anyone out there is still reading this story, I just want to say thank you, and I adore you, and I'm sorry that it's taken me so long to come back.

This was going to be a super long chapter, so I broke it up into two. Hopefully that means it won't take me a hundred years to post the next update since I already know exactly what I want to write. But I will tell you that this is the last chapter with only Hap and Sarah. Chapter 11 will finally bring another Son into the mix :)

I honestly didn't know if I was going to continue this story, but Hap and Sarah just wouldn't let me go, and I couldn't let them go either. So I truly hope you enjoy this, and as always, please review!

P.S.- Just a reminder, in my brain, Sarah's sister Rachel is played by Anna Kendrick, but you can imagine whoever you want to :)

Chapter 10

"Yo, Hap! Grab me some candy out of the vending machine while you're out there."

Happy took the dollar bill from Donut's outstretched hand before walking outside of the motel room and shutting the door. He had been on the road for a few days now, riding from Charming to Tacoma with Juice on the first leg of a run. But now he was making his way to Canada with a few of the guys from Samtac.

And at any other point in his life, he would have loved it; the freedom of the road, the peace and the solitude, the satisfaction that came with doing anything that helped his club. But as he lit his cigarette and reached for his phone, Hap felt nothing short of miserable; just like he had for the last two weeks, since the day he rode away from Sarah's place after the best fucking weekend of his life.

Happy walked around to the side of the motel and leaned his back against the chipped, faded siding before dialing her number. Then he waited impatiently through three rings until he finally heard her voice. "Hi, you."

Hap closed his eyes and barely smiled as the sound of her voice washed over him. "Hey, Sarah. What are you doing?"

"Just putting away my Christmas decorations. It's weird. I love them so much when they're up, but as soon as December 26th rolls around, I can't wait to take them down."

Guilt, an emotion that Happy was pretty damn unfamiliar with, rolled through his stomach. He'd never given a shit about the holidays, only ever trying to make them special for his mom's sake. But he knew from their many talks that Christmas was a huge deal to Sarah, and he felt like an asshole when he had to cancel his plans to be with her that day. He had told her he had to spend the holiday with his friends, which was only partially true. He wasn't about to tell her that the One-Niners had chosen Christmas Eve to shoot up a club party, so he had spent most of Christmas day taking out his bloody revenge.

Hap grimaced at the memory, hating himself a little more every time he lied to her. "I thought you were going out tonight."

He heard her slightly sigh. "I thought about it. Rachel's parties are pretty legendary, but…I don't know. I didn't really feel like being out with a bunch of people. I wouldn't have gotten home until late, and I haven't really felt like drinking very much…"

Her voice got quiet and Hap knew everything that she was leaving unsaid; that since her attack back in October, Sarah hadn't been able to leave her house alone after dark, and that she was too scared to drink any more than a single glass of wine, because last time she got drunk she wasn't able to fight back like she'd wanted to.

Hap's mind started to drift to the fucker he killed that night, and how he wished he could do it a thousand more times, but Sarah's sweet voice pulled him back to the present. "So where are you right now?"

Happy frowned again…another half truth. He had told her he was going to Washington to visit some of his brothers, leaving out the part about delivering a shipment of guns. He shook off the unease as best he could and looked around at the mass of tall trees that surrounded the small building on all sides. "We just crossed into Canada about a hundred miles ago. Staying the night at a motel in the middle of nowhere. I think we're in a national park or something."

"Is it pretty there?"

Happy grinned as a small, quiet laugh escaped his lips. She's the only person in the world who would ask me something like that. But as his laughter faded, he raised his eyes to his surroundings and paused for a few moments to take everything in. The moon was full and shining, illuminating everything around him, making the giant trees and their windblown leaves look like they were bathed in silver. The sky was a sea of endless, cloudless black decorated with some of the brightest stars he'd ever seen. And other than the occasional cricket chirping somewhere in the distance, the entire night was cloaked in a blanket of silence.

Then he realized something. I would have never noticed how beautiful it all is, if it wasn't for her.

Happy finally answered her, but by the time his words were spoken, he had closed his eyes and dismissed the world around him. In that moment, he only saw her face. "Yeah. It's really pretty."

A few seconds of peaceful quiet passed between them when the stillness was suddenly broken by all the noise filtering out of the motel rooms. People were joyously shouting, blowing on noise makers, and somewhere someone started blaring Auld Lang Syne through the speakers of an old scratchy stereo.

It was midnight on the first of January, when you're supposed to kiss the person you're meant to be with the enitre rest of the year. And even though he was hundreds of miles away from her, in that second of time, Happy wanted to kiss the woman on the other end of the line more than he'd ever wanted anything in his life. "Happy New Year, Sarah."

He couldn't see it, but he knew she was out there, somewhere in Bakersfield, smiling. "Happy New Year, Benny."

A little over a week later, Sarah found herself sitting at her favorite coffee shop, nervously picking at an orange scone and wishing like hell that she had a few more minutes to rehearse exactly what she was going to say. But only a couple of seconds passed before her sister sat down across from her, crossed her arms over her chest, and raised one perfectly plucked, inquisitive eyebrow.

Rachel took a sip of her caramel mocha. "You may as well start talking, Sarah Marie. You've successfully avoided me at every opportunity since Thanksgiving, but you are so not getting out of this conversation." Then she set her drink on the table and leaned forward on her elbows, resting her chin on her hands as a sly grin crossed her face. "Spill. Now."

Sarah couldn't help but smile at her annoyingly persistent big sister. She brushed a stray piece of dark hair behind one ear and then took a sip of her earl grey tea before speaking. "His name's Benny. Benny Lowman."

"Sweet Jesus, he has a name! I thought I was going to have to beat it out of you."

Sarah reached across the table and punched Rachel in the arm, but she couldn't hide her grin. "God, you're such a drama queen."

Rachel just smiled. "So where did you two meet?"

Sarah cleared her throat and looked down with way too much interest at her scone. "Um, we met at bar."

Rachel huffed out an incredulous breath. "You? You met a guy at a bar? Sarah, you've never picked up a guy in a bar in your life. That's my area of expertise."

Sarah shrugged and hoped to god she sounded convincing. "It was just…this crazy night. I went to one of the bars in my neighborhood, alone, and ended up drinking way too much..."

Rachel's face changed quickly from amused to pissed. "Jesus Sarah, you live in one of the shittiest parts of Bakersfield! You know it's not safe to be out all by…"

"I know!" As soon as the words left Sarah's mouth she groaned inwardly to herself and sighed. She took a deep breath and this time the same words came out calmer. "I know. It was stupid, and I don't make a habit of it. But it happened, and I was trashed. Benny was there and he…he made sure I got home ok…that nothing happened to me. That's how we met."

The sisters' eyes locked for a few seconds before a look of understanding crossed Rachel's face. "Well, God knows I'm not one to judge. It's a miracle I haven't woken up hungover in a dumpster somewhere. We've all had those nights. I didn't mean to give you a hard time. Sorry. I'm a bitch."

Sarah just smiled. "No you're not."

But Rachel only laughed. "Uh, yeah. I totally am. But I accepted that long ago, and everyone still loves me." She winked at Sarah before taking another long drink of her coffee. "Ok, back to the story. Benny Lowman. Met at a bar. A gentleman who escorted your drunken ass home. Continue."

Sarah suddenly felt her entire body relax. Alright, the lying part is over. Now I get to tell her the amazing, perfect, makes-me-so-happy-I-still-can't-believe-it's-real truth. "Rach, he's not anyone I've ever been with…"

Sarah didn't know how long she talked to her sister about Benny, but it must have been awhile since the next time she picked up her tea it had gone completely cold. It was just so wonderful to finally talk about the most incredible man she'd ever met with Rachel, her best friend in the world. She told her about his job, his friends, and his motorcycle. She told her about how gorgeous he is; the classic tall, dark, and handsome man except with a hell of a lot more tattoos. She told her about his sweetness, how talented he is, how easy he is to talk to, and how much he loved his mother. And she told her about how even though he was one of the quietest people she'd ever met, that he could say more with just one look than most people could say in a lifetime.

When Sarah finally finished speaking, Rachel looked at her intently for a long moment before flashing her trademark mischievous smile. "That's all well and good, but how's the sex?"

Sarah hated that at 33 years old, her sister could still make her blush. But her embarrassment quickly faded as a slow smile spread across her lips. She stared down at her cup of tea and grinned. "The best I've ever had."

Rachel's squeal of excitement made both of them bust up laughing. Then Rachel sighed. "So he's great, right? He gorgeous, nice, a god in the bedroom, yes?"

Sarah chuckled and rolled her eyes at her sister, but reluctantly nodded. "Yes."

Then Rachel leaned back in her chair as her laughter slowly died down. "Then I don't get it, Sarah. Why haven't you told me about him before? Why haven't I met him? Why haven't you brought him over to meet Mom and Dad?"

Sarah and Rachel have always told each other everything, have always been each other's very best friends. So Sarah shouldn't have been so surprised to see the sliver of hurt in Rachel's eyes.

Sarah tilted her head to the side and sighed. "I'm sorry. I am, really. I should have told you about him sooner. It's just…it's all really new. We've only been seeing each other a couple of months. And just so we're clear, it will be a very long time before he meets Mom and Dad. Benny isn't really a 'meet the parents' kind of guy, and I don't want to put him through the firing squad that is Martin and Barb Franklin until absolutely necessary."

Rachel chuckled and grinned. "Understandable." Sarah just watched in amusement as Rachel reached across the table and stole the rest of her scone. Then, with her mouth completely full, Rachel asked, "So what did he get you for Christmas?"

Sarah just shrugged. "Nothing. I mean, nothing that I know of yet. I actually haven't seen him in about a month." Rachel furrowed her brow, but Sarah just shook her head. "He spent Christmas with his friends. They're really close. His mom was all the family he had, so his friends are really like brothers to him. He actually calls them all his brothers. I totally understood why he couldn't come down."

Rachel frowned. "But you did spend New Year's Eve together, right? I just assumed you had plans with your mystery guy when you bailed on my party."

Sarah sighed. "No, actually. He was in Canada that night. He and his friends take these really long motorcycle trips together sometimes, and one was that weekend, so he couldn't be here. We talked though. We talk all the time. He's so sweet on the phone..."

But Rachel interrupted her. "So where is he now?"

Sarah frowned. "What do you mean?"

"I mean, where is he right now? You haven't seen the guy in over a month. Why isn't he sitting here with you right now instead of me?"

Sarah struggled to find her words, taken aback by the sudden shift in her sister's tone. "Rach, he has a job. He has a life. And he lives three hours north of here. I can't expect him to drop everything and…"

But Rachel just shook her head. "Ok, let me get this straight. He's super into you. You're super into him. You have this amazing connection. The sex is great. But he can't haul his ass down the highway for a few hours to come and see you?"

"Rachel, it's not like that. He's…"

"Married."

Sarah almost choked on her tea, and after a short coughing fit, took a moment to catch her breath. "Excuse me?"

Sarah didn't think it was possible, but Rachel's frown got even deeper. "He's married."

Sarah just rolled her eyes. "That's the most ridiculous fucking thing I've ever heard."

"Oh, really?" Rachel braced her forearms on the table and stared her down. "Let's go over the facts, shall we? One; he's from out of town, at least he says he is, so you've never had a chance to meet any of his friends or family."

"Rachel, this is so stupid. I can't believe you would…"

"Two; he didn't spend the holidays with his hot new girlfriend, which happened to a lot of unsuspecting women because those are days that cheating husbands traditionally spend with their oblivious wives."

"For christ's sake, you're being ridicu…"

"And three; he hasn't found a single day in the last four weeks to drive down here and see you."

"I told you! He's been busy with work!"

"You said he's a mechanic, Sarah! How fucking busy can he be? Last I checked, most mechanics don't work 16 hour shifts seven days a week."

When Rachel looked at her like she was the stupidest woman on the planet, Sarah almost lashed out. But she bit her tongue long enough to take a slow deep breath. Then she met Rachel's eyes and tried to remember that everything her idiotic, lunatic of a sister had said was coming from a place of love.

Sarah reached across the table for one of Rachel's hands and held it between her own. "Rach, listen to me. Please. I'm telling you. You don't know him. Benny's not a liar. And I know you have no reason to believe that, and you think I'm dumb and naïve, but I swear. He's a good guy. He's…he's wonderful. And I'm really happy. So can you just be happy for me without trying to pick every little thing apart? Please? For me?"

A long few seconds passed before Rachel spoke, her voice quiet and begrudgingly apologetic. "I don't think you're dumb."

Sarah gave her sister the smallest of smiles. "I love you."

Rachel sighed and gave Sarah a tiny grin of her own. "Love you too, brat."

Rachel got up from the table and grabbed her now empty cup. "I gotta head out. I have a date and I need to start getting ready."

Sarah nodded. "Ok. Have fun. And I know this is way out of character for you, but try to behave yourself."

"No promises." Rachel took a few steps away from the table, but then stopped mid-stride. A few seconds later, she turned back to look at Sarah. "Has he ever invited you to Charming to meet all of these close friends of his? To see where he lives?"

It had never really occurred to Sarah until she said it out loud. "No…he hasn't."

When Sarah looked up at Rachel's face, the only thing she saw staring back was concern.

Rachel's voice was kind but stern. "Ask him. If he's really too busy to come to Bakersfield, ask him if you can go up to his place and spend the weekend with him." Then Rachel walked over to Sarah, leaned down, and kissed the top of her head. "Because if he says no…look, maybe you're right. Maybe he isn't married. But Sarah, if he says no, this Benny guy is hiding something from you. I guarantee it."

Sarah watched her sister walk out of the coffee shop while silently telling herself all of the reasons why Rachel was completely crazy. She's just being overprotective, as usual. She doesn't know Benny. She doesn't know what we've been through together. He would never lie to me. He's not hiding anything. He's just not one of those guys. He's not. He's just not.

But even as she repeated those words in her head, Sarah couldn't stop her hands from slightly shaking, or ignore the unease that suddenly caused her shoulders to tense.

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