Author's Note: Hey, everyone. I don't usually go in for long notes here, but ... well, it's a pretty crazy time for everyone right now and I just wanted to say that I hope you're all getting by and staying safe.

Writing has always been, among other things, a form of escape for me - reading too. So if you're struggling to wrap your head around what's happening across the world or you're just finding self-isolation or social distancing tough and this is a welcome distration, I hope it helps even a tiny bit. If you're worried right now, for yourself, for loved ones, for the future, I am too. I think most of us are. I have to admit I've found it tougher than I even thought I would lately. Usually the prospect of time to just read, write, watch TV or whatever would be bliss. But it's hard not to dwell on the harsh reality of life around the globe right now. I've found it hard to concentrate - I wasn't quite happy with this chapter, but I think it's as good as it'll get right now - and to sleep. I've been classed as a frontline worker (not healthcare) so I'm still working, but feel very fortunate to be in a position to do that from home. I may have to work more, or I may have more time to write, it's hard to say at the minute. I'll certainly need that escapism, if I can get my brain firing on all cylinders.

So, whether I post more or less, I'll still be around. It is at least good to be able to stay connected to people online. Stay safe x


Forty

"You sure this is really what you need right now?"

Eden eyed her brother in the mirror as she paused in trying to disguise her slowly fading bruises with make-up to considered his question. "You were the one who was worried when I stayed on the couch in my pyjamas," she noted wryly, blending in more concealer and then surveying the result with a dissatisfied little grimace.

"Yeah, but a party, at the damn clubhouse of all places …"

"It's not a party," she pointed out. "They're still on alert over the War Boys for a start. But they just want to welcome Chibs back properly."

"He only got out of hospital a few days ago. Pretty sure he shouldn't be drinking either."

"Yeah, like that'd stop him," Eden rolled her eyes, before giving up on the bruises and reaching for a couple of lipsticks to compare the shades and try to choose between them.

"Eden …" Seth sighed, trailing off as he seemed to search for the right words.

"Seth," she echoed, finally turning around to look at him properly. "Stop worrying. Am I in the mood for a party? No. Do I want to be around a lot of people, all staring and whispering and giving me those unintentionally awful sympathetic looks like I'm some kind of fucking invalid? No. I'm only going for Filip's sake. Definitely won't be a wild one. Probably won't even drink. And I'll be as safe there as anywhere."

"You gonna stay the night?"

"You gonna remember you're my brother, not my jailer?" Eden asked, but knowing just how worried he had been over her whole ordeal and with pretty good reason, she kept her voice light, cutting him some slack.

Sure enough, he realised himself that he was over-stepping and nodded reluctantly. "Sorry. Shit, sorry, I didn't mean to pry," he sighed, wiping a hand over his face. "Go. Be safe. Maybe it'll do you good to get out for a bit."

Even she wasn't convinced of that, but she forced a little smile as she stood and faced him expectantly, in ripped blue jeans and a floaty white top with tiny gold flecks and her favourite red stiletto ankle boots. "So, how do I look?"

"Like you went a couple of rounds with Deontay Wilder," Seth said archly, before softening and crossing the room to plant a little kiss on the top of her head. "But still a knockout."


"She's not here yet," Lyla said finally, having tried to keep up her end of the conversation with the recovering Samcro president, only to realise his attention was well and truly elsewhere. "Listen, I'm not entirely sure she's gonna show, Chibs …"

That at least got him listening, turning back to stare at the little blonde, a frown knitting his brows. "There something I should know?"

"What? Uh, no! I just meant, it's hard after something like that, having to put a brave face on and be around people. Maybe she just needs time?"

"Ain't expecting her to be the life and soul – hell, I ain't exactly feeling it myself," Chibs said, toying with the bottle of beer he'd been half-heartedly nursing. "But she should be wi' people who understand that, people who care about her. She should be wi' me, Ly."

"Well, just be glad she's got Seth," she shrugged. "You've needed to worry about getting your own strength back before you can be any good to anyone else. There's no point rushing into anything and—Oh, heads up, look who just walked in. Damn, how is it fair she still looks like a babe with a busted face, huh? Hey, I'm gonna want to steal her later for a proper catch-up, but right now, you need to go get your girl …"

His head whipped round at that, brown eyes softening when they landed on an unsure Eden hovering by the clubhouse door that was currently being manned by Happy on security detail. Then she spotted him watching her and, suddenly, it was like she was the only person in the room.

"Eden …"

Feeling like a goddamn nervous teenager, the Scotsman got up from his seat and headed towards her, drinking in the sight of her.

"Hey," she said softly, once he was close enough.

"Hey, lass," he managed, before seizing the moment and taking her face in his hands to kiss her deeply, ignoring the cheers and whistles that rang out around the clubhouse as he rested his forehead against hers. "I missed you, my darlin'."

"You only saw me the other day," Eden smiled, but she seemed to know what he meant, her hands settling at his waist as she leaned in for another little kiss. "How you feeling?"

"Better now you're here," Chibs said, gently tilting her face to inspect what he could see of the outward signs of the violence against her. "You? I'd have understood if you wanted to give this the elbow, you know …"

"Not sure I'm great company right now," she admitted ruefully. "But I wanted to see you."

A little smile quirked his lips at that. "Good. You gonna stay, keep an aul' man company?" he asked, his hand caressing her cheek when he saw her hesitation, his gut twisting at the thought that might be the effect of everything Mack might have subjected her to. "Hey, I didn't mean … If you wanna take things slow, I get it, pet. No pressure here, promise. You trust me?"

She nodded at that, her green eyes shining before she blinked back the tears that had welled up and simply wrapped her arms around him, letting him cradle her to his chest.

"I trust you," Eden whispered. "Filip, can we-"

"Yo, Chibs – get your ass over here and tell this fool he's wrong, will ya?" TO hollered from across the clubhouse, waving impatiently to get his president's attention and his input in whatever good-natured row was going on by the bar.

"Sorry, sweetheart," Chibs sighed ruefully. "Ain't exactly the place for a wee bit o' quality time, is it? Listen, why don't you go find Lyla and I'll do the mingling thing for a bit and maybe that way we can call it quits early?"

"Uh, sure," she said, half disappointed and half relieved by the distraction. "No hurry. No hurry at all …"


"You still haven't told Chibs? Eden …"

"Don't look at me like that, Lyla – it's not exactly been a good time," Eden sighed, toying with the straw in her sparkling water. "And look around, it's not really the right time now, is it?"

"He scared them," Lyla said, surveying the clubhouse that hadn't quite reached rowdy Friday night level, but was still full of patches and trusted hang-arounds and croweaters talking and laughing. "This is their way of trying to forget that. Get back to normal."

"Wish it was that easy for the rest of us," Eden sighed, getting a little smirk in return.

"Oh, sweetie, you gave up any chance of getting your life back to normal when you let that man put a little baby Chibs in your belly …"

"Lyla! Do you wanna say that any louder? I don't think the guys in Tacoma heard you!"

"No one's listening," Lyla laughed. "But Chibs is staring over here, looking like he's pining for you. Go on, go to him – the two of you deserve a little loving."

Rolling her eyes, Eden did nevertheless get up from her seat and head for the biker, her heart lifting at the sight of the slow smile that spread across his scarred face – although it plummeted the next at the sight of one of Flick's girls sashaying her way over to the club president and practically draping herself over him to plant a kiss on his cheek with impossibly pouty lips.

Everly Sinclair, emphasis on the sin, and the hottest ticket on the Red Woody books right now, with a mane of pale blonde hair that tumbled down her back to end in baby pink ringlets, one of the higher end boob jobs she definitely wasn't shy about flaunting, and legs that just seemed to go on forever.

Eden couldn't help glancing down at herself after taking in the other woman's outfit. She'd tried to make as much of an effort as she could get in the mood for, whereas the porn star had clearly committed to making an impact, in a hot pink leather mini-skirt and matching crop top with a zip she kept toying with and easing down a little further as she cooed over Chibs.

"… so if you need some TLC while you recover …" Everly offered coyly, one long pink nail still playing with the zip of her top while she reached with her free hand to trace lightly over the president's patch on Chibs' cut.

Part of Eden was sorely tempted to just slink quietly away. How could she compete with … that? Especially now, after everything that had happened and everything that lay ahead. Who wanted broken and bruised, or knocked up with stretch marks, over every man's fucking wet dream?

Then Chibs shook his head, removing the taken aback blonde's hand and making her giggle in disbelief.

"Oh, come on, Mr President," she coaxed. "I know you're still recovering, but I'll be gentle. Promise. Like I said, you look like you could do with some TLC …"

Taking a deep breath, Eden forced herself to head to Chibs' side, bolstered by his grateful look.

"Sorry, but he's got an old lady for that," she said simply.

Everly turned around to give her the once-over and then smiled indulgently. "As if, sweetheart," she said, quickly turning her attention back to Chibs and returning to trailing a suggestive finger down his chest. "Now, where were we …?"

With all the emotions that had been stewing inside her – guilt, fear, anger, hurt - about to come close to boiling over, Eden's hand shot out before Chibs had a chance to react or she'd even really thought it through, grabbing the porn star's wrist and sharply twisting her arm behind her back until she yelped in pain.

"Hey, get off me!" Everly shrieked, drawing the attention of pretty much everyone in close proximity.

"Do you know what happened to the last person who laid their hands on my old man?" Eden leaned in close to hiss. "They died."

It was only at the feel of Chibs' arm snaking around her waist that the medic came to her senses and let go her vise-like hold on the other woman like she'd been burned.

"Easy, love," his thick brogue murmured in her ear, soothing the fire of her temper.

"Psycho bitch!" Everly all but spat, rubbing at the finger marks left on her wrist and glaring around wide-eyed. "You all saw what she did to me, right?"

"Oi," Chibs growled. "If you're gonna disrespect my old lady, you better know you got off light so far. Either fall in line or get the fuck out. Your choice."

Her jaw dropping at that, the porn star opened her mouth to argue, thought the better of it, and flounced off with a huffy toss of her hair and what was left of her dignity - leaving Eden to visibly wilt in fresh guilt and mortification at having caused a scene.

"I can't believe I did that," she whispered, burying her face in her hands.

But Chibs wasn't having that, gently easing them away. "Been getting too big for her boots lately, that one," he smirked. "Needed taking down a peg or two. Besides … kinda like seeing a wee bit o' fire from ya."

"You're not embarrassed I kicked off like that in front of everyone?"

He actually chuckled at that. "Hell no, darlin'. What man wouldn't want a gorgeous lass getting all possessive over him? And if Gemma or Tara were here, they'd tell you the bitches round here need keeping in check sometimes …"

His smile faded at the memory of all the club women they had lost, but he tried to shake off thoughts of the past when his present company looked so unlike her usual together self. Taking her hand in his, he raised it to his lips for a kiss.

"Stay wi' me, love," he murmured. "Just … stay."

He'd said he wouldn't pressure her and he meant it, but when she nodded and her fingers laced through his, the biker considered her for a moment and then jerked his head in the direction of the dorms.

"C'mon," Chibs said, making sure she was right behind him as he led the way towards the sanctuary of his quarters. "Let's get some peace."