Author's Note: My posting schedule has kinda gone out the window thanks to lockdown, but I'm just going to roll with it. Hope everyone's holding up okay. Hearing from those still enjoying this is a welcome little burst of positivity right now, so thank you as always. T x
Forty-Five
"Evening, bud – that girl o' ours in?"
"Soaking in the tub. Bit of pampering, whatever shit chicks do to chill out. You want a beer while you … wait?" Seth trailed off, having held open the front door, only to grimace as Chibs simply patted his shoulder on the way past and headed for the bathroom. "Or come in, perve over my naked little sister, don't mind me."
Smirking as he left the disgruntled big boxing coach in his wake, the biker rapped lightly with a knuckle on the door, hearing the soft strain of music coming from the other side. "Mind if I come in, darlin'?"
He waited for her affirmation, then slipped around the door into the small bathroom lit by flickering candles, a slow smile tugging at his lips at the sight of his old lady relaxing in fragrant water topped with frothy bubbles that offered some, albeit sensual, semblance of modesty, but still revealed the occasional tantalising hint of soft skin. Her long hair was piled on top of her head in a messy bun, just a few tendrils escaping to lie damp against her neck.
"Hey you," Eden murmured, flushing lightly under the heat of her old man's gaze as he leaned against the wall, watching her trail a washcloth up one long smooth leg.
"Hey yersel'. Jesus, I dunno how I didn't see it before …" he mused, grinning at her bemused look of questioning. "You. Bloody gorgeous. I mean, you're always gorgeous – it's more than that. You've got that wee glow they talk about, lass."
She rolled her eyes at that, half disbelieving and half pleased. "Probably just the steam. And you won't be saying that when I can't see my feet," she warned, finishing up and gesturing towards her towel, making him reach for it and hold it open as she stood up carefully.
"I bloody will," Chibs insisted, wrapping her up in the fluffy softness. "The thought o' seeing you wi' a cute bump, knowing that's my baby in your belly … Dunno how I'm gonna keep my hands off ya, love."
As if to prove his point, he lifted her out of the bath and into his arms for a kiss.
"I'm getting you all wet," Eden smiled, her arms around his neck.
"Shouldn't that be my line?" Chibs chuckled, making her swat at him, but he only cuddled her closer. "Gotta admit, nice as it's been having a couple o' days o' just us knowing about the baby, I ain't exactly a fan o' having to come visit my old lady – my pregnant old lady – instead o' having her by my side. You think maybe it's time to break the news to big brother?"
She took a deep breath that was half groan, her head resting against his chest. "Do we have to?" she lamented, only half joking.
"Aye," Chibs said firmly, planting a kiss on the top of her head. "Pretty sure we do. And soon, or else he's gonna catch on himself. Hey, no time like the present …"
"Well, I'm pretty sure Seth would appreciate it if I at least put clothes on first," Eden sighed.
But, despite her efforts to keep her tone light, a hint of worry lined her brow and Chibs frowned to see it. "Talk to me, sweetheart," he murmured, sensing there was more on her mind than just her brother's reaction. "Where's your head at wi' all this?"
"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't scared," she admitted quietly, looking up at him as his hand caressed her cheek. "Not of Seth, just … A baby's a big step, Filip, and it's not like we planned this one. We haven't really been together that long – and we haven't even lived together. Not properly."
"Can soon fix that," Chibs shrugged. "I meant it when I asked you to move in wi' me at the hospital and the offer still stands, love. I don't want you thinking I'm just trying to steamroll ahead now because o' the baby. I mean, 'course it's a factor. I want to take care o' you, both o' you. But, like I said, I just want you wi' me, my darlin', by my side. Simple as that. And I'll have you know, there are some benefits to shacking up wi' an aul' man like me - I am pretty well housebroken by now."
"I just don't want you to feel, like … obligated. To stay with me, I mean," she said, only for him to scoff at the mere idea.
"Obligated! Fuck me, darlin', I'm over here counting my lucky stars a wee lass like you had any interest in the first place," he declared, giving her a little squeeze as he planted a kiss on her lips.
"I'm serious, Filip."
"So am I! I know when I'm punching above my weight," he grinned. "Thought I was doing well getting you into bed – never expected to get to keep ya."
"Guess I didn't exactly see myself hanging on to the big, bad Samcro president either …" Eden mused.
"That's because you, my gorgeous girl, have no fucking clue how perfect you are."
"Is this you turning up the charm so I'll move in with you?"
"Is it working?"
"Hmm, I could be persuaded …"
With his head in a fitness magazine while he lounged on the couch, Seth only looked up when he realised his sister was stood in front of him in leggings and a slouchy, oversized sweater, her hair left loose around her shoulders. She had a slightly strange expression on her face as she shifted awkwardly, clearly having something to say, and even the biker by her side looked a little uncomfortable as he let her fingers curl around his.
"If you're here to apologise…" Seth started, pulling his headphones down to rest around his neck. "… for having sex in my bathroom, don't bother. Headphones. Didn't hear a thing – and I'd prefer to keep it that way. As long as you didn't flood the place, there are some things I just don't need to know."
"We were just talking!" Eden corrected him, blushing furiously while Chibs tried and failed to hide a grin.
"Okay," Seth shrugged, sceptical but willing to gloss swiftly over it regardless, trying to turn his attention back to the article he'd been reading.
"No, wait!" his sister tried. "There is, uh, something you need to know …"
"Oh, okay – hang on, let me just go grab another beer. You guys want anything?
"Seth, can you just … stop a minute please? Sit down."
But the boxing coach was already on his feet, although he did stop in his tracks at that. "No one ever gets told to sit down for anything good," he said slowly, rounding on the couple with suspicion clear on his face. "What's going on? Is it to do with the club? If you've gotten her into trouble …"
"Well, not the kind o' trouble you're thinking," Chibs muttered wryly, wiping a hand over his face, even as Eden shot him a warning look.
"Look, Seth, you know I love you-"
"Fuck, it must be bad."
"Will you let me speak?! I love you and I love living with you. You were there for me when I really needed you, helped me get back on my feet and I'm so grateful for that. I owe you so much. No, let me finish … It's just, well, you know it wasn't really meant to be a permanent thing and, uh, a lot has changed …"
Understanding passed over Seth's face and he relaxed just a little. "Ah, I get it. You want to move out. To move in with him?"
Glancing at Chibs with a tiny smile, Eden nodded slowly, studying her brother's reaction as if trying to read what was going on in his mind.
"You don't owe me anything, kiddo, and you don't have to ask permission. But are you sure you know what you're doing here?" Seth asked her seriously, throwing a glance of his own Chibs' way. "No offence, man."
She nodded again, her fingers tightening around the Scotsman's. "I'm not a little girl anymore," she said lightly.
"No, I know," he sighed. "But you'll always be my baby sister and I just want what's best for you. It is a big step, you know, and you've had a helluva lot going on."
"I know," Eden said, with a soft smile for her favourite sibling, before taking a deep breath and steeling herself to reveal the real news. "But it is for the best. Being with Filip, moving in with him. I love him, Seth, and he loves me, and … and we're … I mean, I'm …"
"What the lass is trying to say is, well, we're expecting," Chibs said finally, seeing his old lady was struggling to find the right words.
"Expecting what?" Seth said blankly, waiting for the rest of the sentence.
"Uh, a baby?" Eden supplied tentatively, her heart sinking even as a dark look crossed her brother's face.
"Is this some kind of wind-up?" Seth demanded, staring at the couple in front of him in disbelief. "Please tell me you're not actually serious."
"Seth …"
"Have you lost your damn minds? How could you be so fucking irresponsible, Eden?!" he exploded, stepping towards his taken aback sister, before being blocked by Chibs who calmly placed himself between them.
"All right, settle down. Don't be yelling at your wee sister like that, mate …"
"And you! You don't waste any time, do you? Everything she's been through and you think knocking her up is the answer – you've been back together five fucking minutes, for Christ's sake! Not so long ago, you were screwing my goddamn receptionist, remember?"
Chibs' jaw tightened at that, even before he saw how Eden's eyes welled up and tears spilled down her cheeks before she could blink them away.
"That's enough," the biker said, his words a low, warning growl. "You're upsetting my old lady."
"I'm upsetting her!" Seth echoed furiously, even as something twisted guiltily in his stomach at the obvious truth in that. "Jesus Christ … How the hell can you even know you're pregnant? You literally couldn't be more than a couple of weeks, unless you couldn't even wait to get out of the fucking hospital!"
"Twelve," Eden whispered, dashing at her eyes with the end of her sleeve, not even meeting his stunned gaze. "Well, nearly thirteen now."
They could see the exact moment the maths clicked in his head, but the brutal punch that caught Chibs full in the face still seemed to come out of nowhere, making Eden cry out and grab her brother's arm to stop him doing it again.
"Seth!"
"Easy, pet," Chibs managed, touching a hand to his jaw. "I probably had that coming, all things considered."
"You got my sister pregnant and then broke her fucking heart, you bastard – she might be quick to forgive and forget, but I'd say that's the least you deserve."
"Seth, please don't be like this …" Eden tried tearfully, only to be shrugged off angrily by her brother. That was all Chibs needed to make up his mind.
"You know what? You wanna take this out on me, fine. But I ain't having Eden stuck in the middle," he said firmly, already steering her towards the door. "When you've calmed the fuck down, you know where we'll be. Charlie'll be round for some o' her stuff. If you've any bloody decency, you'll let him-"
"Oh, you wanna talk about decency, asshole …" Seth interrupted hotly, but Chibs had already herded a protesting Eden out the door and slammed it behind them, prompting her to fully burst into distraught tears.
"Shhh, my darlin', shhh," the biker sighed, gathering her into his arms and petting her hair soothingly. "Now, now, don't cry, love. He'll come around, you'll see. Shhh, that's a good girl. Come on, let's go home."
"Look, no questions, lad," Chibs sighed, slapping a concerned looking Charlie on the shoulder. "Just go round Seth's, throw some things o' Eden's in a bag – and, oi, no rummaging round her knicker drawer, you hear me?"
"Is Eden okay?" the young man asked, in clear defiance of the no questions rule. "Did she have a fight with Seth? Because it must have been bad if she can't even go round there …"
Realising there was every chance that Seth himself would say something revealing about the situation when the prospect turned up on his doorstep, Chibs gave in and pulled Charlie inside, propelling him through to the kitchen and making him sit down.
"Right, not a word to anyone back at the clubhouse or I'll have your guts. Eden's pregnant and, well, it turns out big bro didn't take too kindly to the news."
"Eden's pregnant? You and Eden are having a baby?" Charlie asked, wide-eyed. "Holy shit!"
"Aye, that's what I said. More or less," Chibs said wryly, although he couldn't help smiling just a little at the young man's reaction. "You ain't winding up to punch me too, are ya, son?"
"Seth punched you?" the prospect said, his face falling and only becoming more downcast as he mulled that over. "Shit. W-what do you need me to do? Because I … I know it's bad he punched you, but I like Seth and I don't want to do anything that'll hurt Eden. He's still her brother. Although if he's being a dick to her …"
"No one's getting hurt," the Samcro president sighed, touching his still throbbing jaw tentatively. "Apart from me apparently. Don't worry, kid – this'll all blow over in a day or two, once Seth gets used to the idea o' being an uncle."
"I don't get the big deal. He's already an uncle," Charlie shrugged. "Their sister has twin boys. They're identical. Eden showed me pictures …"
"Jesus, I'd forgot she said there were twins in the family. And here's me still getting me head round the prospect o' being a da again to one wee one! You're the first person I've told."
"I am?" As if he'd forgotten his place, Charlie stood up at that, straightening up and holding out a solemn hand to his president and sponsor. "Congratulations, boss."
Touched by the simple gesture, Chibs grinned despite himself and took the proffered hand, shaking it firmly before pulling the prospect into a warm backslapping hug. "Thanks, Charlie-Boy. Listen, why don't you go up, have a wee word wi' Eden? See if there's anything she needs? Glimpse o' a friendly face might cheer her up."
"No problem," Charlie nodded readily. "Whatever you need. Both of you."
Thinking of his tearful old lady curled up in his bed, Chibs could only heave a sigh.
"Wish I knew, lad. Wish I knew."
