I hope you are all staying safe out there is in this scary world at the moment.

Chapter 4

Nicole felt nervous pulling into the Teller/Morrow garage. This place was starting hold more bad memories than good, which was weird considering this was the place she had grown up, the place she had run to for protection. However, the last time she had been inside the clubhouse Jax- the last person she had thought would- had gotten forceful with her. He wasn't the only man who had done that to her.

However she wasn't there for any of them, she was there for Lyla, someone who she considered her friend.

As the truck came to a stop Nicole watched as Phil quickly made his way out of the truck and towards her side. She smiled to herself knowing that this reaction was from a lecture Happy had given him earlier.

Once Happy had explained to her what had happened to Lyla Nicole had insisted that she needed to see her. Happy didn't object, however, he had then insisted that she attend her doctor's appointment at , he had also told her that Phil knew about the baby and he would be taking her. Her first fear was that Phil was going to tell people but Happy said differently, they had both come to the agreement that for now they were keeping the baby to themselves which Happy had also confirmed that he had firmly told Phil. Phil was not to say anything and keep them safe. Hearing Happy say that made her feel safe, loved, but at the same time looking at Phil and seeing the nervous glint in his eye and the road rash across his skin from the accident Nicole felt guilty.

She was brought from her thoughts when Phil opened her door and gently grabbed her by her elbow to lead her out of the truck.

"Phil…."

"Yeah Nicole?"

"Thank you."

"What for?"

"Everything," Nicole also hadn't forgotten how Phil had been with her when in he had walked into the room Happy had destroyed. "You are a good guy." She saw him blush and it made her smile. "But… lets try and play down this." Nicole motioned between them. It wasn't so much that he was helping her, she had been in a car accident that ended up in 12 stitches in her side but it was the look in his eye and the extra careful action he was taking towards her. It was sweet but if Gemma clocked this she would start asking questions. Nicole could probably pass it off as though he had a little crush on her or something but Nicole didn't want to do that.

"Sorry Nicole." Phil apologised moving his hand from her elbow.

"Need to keep the secret for a bit longer Phil." He nodded. Phil had heard the same thing from Happy but not delivered as nicely as her.

With a smile exchanged they started to make their way into the clubhouse.

"Oh my god Lyla." Nicole rushed over to her friend who was sat at the bar. "You ok?" Nicole asked embracing Lyla carefully.

"I will be." Nicole watched the tears form behind her beautiful blue eyes.

"What happened?"

"Ima got me the gig." Lyla watched Nicole roll her eyes and let out a sigh. "She didn't know." Lyla admitted. Nicole watched her friend take a sip of the clear liquid. Nicole knew it was alcohol, but she didn't judge she had been there more than most. Although she did feel a distaste in her mouth when she mentioned Ima. "I needed the money." Again, Nicole could not judge.

"I'm so sorry Lyla I should have done more, we should have done more." Lyla knew which 'we' Nicole was referring to. And she couldn't disagree more everyone had been so good to her and the kids and it wasn't like Nicole didn't have her own shit going on. That was evident just looking at her.

"Everyone has done everything they could." She took another drink this time leaning across the bar and grabbing another glass and a bottle of Vodka confirming to Nicole that it was Vodka. "Since Ope, it's just been be hard. Three kids, one income…." She pushed the freshly pored glass towards Nicole. "It's all I know what to do."

"Lyla." Nicole was sympathetic to her but Nicole couldn't change her situation as much as she wanted to. All she could say was "I'm sorry"

Lyla shrugged and took another drink. She pushed the glass that she had filled before towards Nicole. It took a second, and watching Nicole glance at the drink and back at her for Lyla to realise.

"Oh my god." Hearing those words Nicole quickly looked around, thankfully they were alone. But Nicole still clamped her hand down over Lyla's.

"Yes I am." Nicole answered without the question being aired.

"What happened?"

"I didn't have it." Nicole answered referring to the abortion. "Happy knows, he found out about the abortion."

"Shit. You ok?" Nicole nodded her mind flashing back to her bedroom, the argument with Happy. The way he chocked the truth out of her. "Nicole." Nicole wiped a tear that fallen and shook her head looking at Lyla with a small laugh.

"We make a right pair." Yes, they did Lyla thought as they both sat at the bar covered in bruises.

"Yeah we do." Both of their attention went to the door to the clubhouse opened to reveal Phil. Nicole knew that was her cue.

"I've gotta go." Nicole got to her feet and hugged her friend before dropping a kiss onto her cheek. "Take care ok."

"You too."

Nicole walked over to Phil and they both headed outside and that's when Nicole ran straight into her Aunt. Nicole had been nervous about this. Her and Happy had decided with everything that was going on and the fact that she was able to hide her growing bump that they would keep the baby between them, however if anyone could sniff out their little secret it was the woman standing in front of her.

"Gemma."

"Hey baby." Her Aunt pulled her into a hug which Nicole tried to keep short, so she pulled away quickly. She also tried to ignore the questioning look on her Aunts face. "You ok?"

"Yeah. We're on our way to ." She saw the questioning look. "The condition of Happy for discharging myself. It's just check-up." Nicole felt bad. Happy had divulged what Gemma's part was in Clay's arrest and Nicole really did want to be there for her Aunt but right now she needed to get to her appointment plus Gemma made her nervous.

"Ok."

"Look lets catch up again ok." She gave Gemma a kiss on the cheek before heading back to the truck.

Phil was hot on her heels until he felt a hand on his arm. He looked at Gemma. "Her and the killah ok?"

"Uh, yeah." Gemma nodded but Phil could tell that she wasn't buying it. "Uh I should be going Gemma." Phil didn't wait for a response instead he quickly followed behind Nicole.

"We're going to have to be careful around Gemma." Nicole reminded Phil.

"Yeah." And Phil couldn't agree more the matriarch always terrified Phil.


After his disappointing talk with Tara Teller, Lee Toric tried another way in because he had to bring down Samcro, they killed his sister. But Clay Morrow even though he had been excommunicated from his brothers, family, Clay had insisted that he wouldn't sign anything that could incriminate the club.

No Clay Morrow wanted to see Gemma, Jaxon and Nicole.

It infuriated him but if Toric wanted his revenge he needed to do this. He needed Clay Morrow.

He made the necessary arrangements for the visitation. All three of them would receive a notice of a request to visit Clay Morrow.


Nicole kept finding herself staring at the picture. Although she had had a scan in Tacoma, this was the first time that she had heard the heartbeat and Nicole didn't know how to feel. It was surreal. The heartbeat belonged to her and Happy's child, they had created that. She was going to be a mother and Happy a farther. Nicole still couldn't wrap her head around it. She hadn't lost those fears of the fact that she was probably not fit to be a mother, but she had no choice now. Nicole felt the tears burn her eyes. But her focus moved from the picture when she heard the sirens ahead. Tucking the picture into her bag she looked at the sight in front of her.

Phil slowed down the truck. "Is that the school?" Nicole said aloud not really expecting an answer and she didn't get one.

They drove closer and could see ambulances and police cars surrounding the school as children were being led out by armed police.

Nicole had a bad feeling; she had seen scenes like this on the news before. It meant one thing usually, a school shooting. Nicole's hand went to her stomach.

"Phil get me home."


Happy watched her sleeping, she looked like he felt wiped out. Today had been a long day, first the retaliation on those scumbags who had hurt Lyla, and god knows how many other girls, and then they had crossed paths with Charles Barosky. Nero had warned them about this, Barosky was a corrupt ex-cop, he ran the Stockton docks, which just so happened to be where those scumbags had been. When Jax had explained to him why they had gone onto his patch and caused a riot Barosky gave them a pass, in fact he had provided them with a job opportunity. All was good until he introduced his business partner, Colette Jane, the madam. Happy saw it as did some of his brothers. All the shit going on with Jax and Tara at the moment, Tara refusing to see Jax, Tara going behind Jax's back with Wendy there were cracks starting to form and Happy knew how Jax was going to heal them.

His fingers moved a piece of stray from her pretty face. She stirred.

"Hey." She spoke softly.

"Sorry didn't mean to wake you." He rasped as Nicole shifted in the bed and propped herself up leaning towards him brushing her lips against his. Happy needed that and he went to deepen the kiss but she pulled away. He looked at her curiously.

"There was a school shooting today." Happy ran a hand over his head. Now he understood. He had heard the news, they all had and it was hard 3 kids and a teacher killed 10 more kids seriously injured. There was no more information provided, no information on the shooter. Samcro would do their bit to help where they could to get justice.

But he knew given the fact that Nicole was knocked up and kids were involved he knew where her head was at. She was panicking. He reached out and cupped her face in his hand, his thumb rubbing over her cheek. "Get out your head Nic." He felt her lean into his hand. "I ain't letting the kid get hurt."

Nicole moved forward and kissed him again this time deeper, Happy moved closer his hand wrapping around her waist.

She pulled away for the slightest of seconds. "I love you, you know that right?"

"I know kid."