March 2008

Tacoma was keeping him busy. They had some trouble with a rival MC, the War Boys, trying to edge into the port where they imported the Irish guns. It was bullshit turf war, but turf war nonetheless. Happy had earned himself a new smiley face after spending a night working information out of some grunt. On top of that, word had gotten out that Skip Harris had surfaced briefly before going dark again and all charters were burning midnight oil to hunt him down. He knew he should say something to Sara about the hunt for her father. The amount of times she had thrown it back in his face when she found out he knew shit before she did had at least taught him the level of pissed she would reach. Unfortunately, Happy didn't have any intel. He promised himself that he would say something when he actually had something to tell.

February had turned into March before he knew it. In the first few days when he had left Charming, he and Sara had texted or called nearly every day. She filled him in on the Charming drama as it unfolded, such as Jax and Wendy's sudden reconciliation despite Jax filing for divorce back in December, and kept him informed on how her job was going but as time wore on and they both got busier, their contact had dwindled to a few words here and there during the week. He had kept his dick to himself other than a few blowjobs when he was drunk and his hand just wouldn't cut it but the Tacoma sweetbutts were starting to catch his eye again, despite knowing they wouldn't be able to satisfy him they way Sara did.

It wasn't that he wasn't interested in Sara anymore; he was. Very much so. That was part of the problem. In Charming she consumed him, sucked him in. His thoughts, his actions— everything reflected his growing feelings for the young blonde woman. Being away from her was like breaking out of her orbit, only he hadn't been aware of the way he was spinning around her. When he had returned to Tacoma, it hit him like culture shock. Even some of the guys had picked up on his changed demeanor, telling him that he had gone soft. Kozik had intervened on a few occasions defending Sara and made some snide comment about throwing rocks in glass houses, and most of the guys had grumbled in defeat as they returned to the bar to drink away their alimony.

As much as he didn't want to hear it, he was starting to think the guys were right. It wasn't like he couldn't gut a man anymore, in fact he felt like a recharged battery after disposing of the rival, but he was a little rusty. Now that he was back to the grind he felt like he could breathe freer and everything was easier, like he was re-centered on what was important: the club. He was more focused and more lethal than he had ever been. So did that mean they right, was she making him soft?

Can I come up to Tacoma this weekend? I have a three day. He stared at the text on his phone. He had been looking at it for about a half an hour, if he had to guess. To be honest, he had lost track of time.

Was it smart for her to come up?

The guys are sending a truck up for a run and I asked if I could tag along. Is that okay? Apparently she had grown impatient with his silence.

Sure It was a lame response but he didn't know what else to say. There was a big party planned for that weekend in honor of St Patrick's Day. It was a bit tongue in cheek, what with their Irish gun deal and all, but it was gonna be a good time. Having Sara here, in his clubhouse, would be different than it was in Charming. In California, he didn't really give a fuck what the guys thought. Sure, they were his brothers by technicality and he had come to care for them but Tacoma was his home. He'd known the men in his charter nearly half of his life. Their opinions mattered. The way they acted around him and treated him with respect and reverence for his skill set mattered. They were his family.

"You good?" Kozik asked coming over to where Happy was sitting on his bike in the clubhouse lot.

"Sara's coming up this weekend." Happy admitted with an exhale. His breath was visible in a fluffy white cloud before dispersing just as quick. He still wasn't completely readjusted to the Tacoma winter weather.

"Really?" Kozik perked up excitement evident in his voice. "Wait, are you not happy about this?"

"Don't know."

"Why wouldn't you be?"

"Not sure. Shit's different up here."

"What the fuck is that doomsday shit? You're overthinking it. It's not like you've been banging bitches left and right and gotta cover that shit up." Kozik snorted, having noticed the quieter lifestyle his friend had adopted since returning from California. "Listen, she's been up here before to check on me so some of the guys already know her. Besides, it's not like she's embarrassing. Girl is 100% out of your league; the worst you'll have to do is beat the hangarounds off her. It'll be fine; stop worrying." Kozik was right. There was no reason for Hap to be anxious about it. He just needed to pop a Xanax and smoke a joint and relax.

"You going home or comin' in?"

"Home." Happy answered shortly knowing mistakes would be made if he went in. The last thing he needed was to make his fucking life more complicated right now. He pulled on his helmet, night glasses, and warm gloves.

"Your loss, brother." Kozik stated before giving him a small wave and hurrying into the warm clubhouse.

Sara sighed, throwing her phone in her purse as she walked out to her car after work. Happy's lukewarm response wasn't exactly what she was looking for although she wasn't sure why she was surprised. He was hardly an avid texter, and things had been a little weird since he had left for Tacoma. She was trying—honestly she was—to not jump to conclusions. She told herself that he was probably just busy, or on his bike unable to respond, or anything that kept out the nagging suspicion he was balls deep in some sweetbutt.

When she had tried to talk to Juice about it, he politely backed out of the conversation.

"Sara, I don't know anything, but you know I couldn't tell you even if I did." He had said with a shrug. She knew he was right, and that it was unfair to put her friend between them. She just didn't really have anyone else. The ladies at work were nice, but they were pretty straight-laced and she didn't want to spill her relationship drama with women who didn't understand the life.

"Donna?" The words were out of Sara's mouth before she registered them. The petite brunette in question snapped her head in the direction of her name, her young son beside her. "Sorry, I don't know if you remember me. I'm Sara, I know Opie from… the club." Sara informed awkwardly, remembering halfway through her introduction that Opie's wife wasn't overly fond of the club these days. The last time the two women had interacted was when Donna and Ope were still dating, so it had been a few years.

"Oh… yea, I remember you. What're you doing here?" The brunette asked suspiciously, looking around.

"I work at the clinic. Just leaving work, actually. Everything okay?" Sara inquired, gesturing to the boy's wrapped elbow and sling.

"He fell skateboarding." Donna informed with a small blush that mothers get when they feel like they might be judged for their parenting skills.

"Oh, I remember when my brother did that once. Skinned both hands and knees." Sara responded with a nod, directing her statement to the boy who only watched her with guarded eyes.

"Well, we should be going." Donna politely excused with a tight-lipped smile, hands on her son's shoulder.

"Donna, wait—" Sara quickly interjected, unsure of herself. "Do you want to—Would you like to hang out or get a drink or something… sometime…?" The sentence hung in the air for what felt like hours but was probably a few seconds. "It's just I don't really have any friends here in Charming…"

"Look, Sara, you seem nice but I have two kids to take of by myself and a mortgage to pay." Donna stated with the firmness of a strong single mother.

"Right… Yea I get it, nevermind." Sara sighed with a forced smile, fiddling with her keys. She didn't know what she was expecting. She turned away as her cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment and started towards her car. Well, she could always go home and open a bottle of wine by herself… again.

"Sara, wait." Donna's tired voice reached out. "Bring a bottle of wine over, and I'll make us dinner." Sara perked up.

"Red or white?"

"Whatever pairs best with chicken nuggets." Donna sighed with a small smile. Sara nodded and scurried to her car with extra bounce in her step.

"I brought both red and white." Sara stated holding up the bottles as Donna opened the door. "I don't know how to pair wines… I usually just drink it on the couch." She finished with an unapologetic shrug and the smaller woman giggled, moving to let her in.

"Sounds great. Can't remember the last time I had time to drink wine." Donna sighed, moving barefoot through the house towards the kitchen with Sara trailing behind. She had never been in Opie's house before, and while it was relatively sparse, it was homey.

"Sorry about the mess: two kids." Donna excused although there was no apology in her voice.

"No worries. Can I help with anything?" Sara offered, happy to just be in the presence of another human. Donna set Sara in charge of throwing together a salad as she pulled the tray of chicken nuggets from the oven and stirred the mac & cheese on the stove.

"Kenny! Ellie! Wash up, dinner is ready!" Donna's commanding voice carried through the house and Sara immediately heard the shuffle of two children obeying their mother.

"Well at least they listen." Sara admired and Donna shot her an amused look.

"That's because they know the hell that rains down on them if they don't." The two children emerged right as Donna was plating their food and set it at the dinner table. The kids waited patiently as Sara poured the two adults a glass of wine and took her seat. Seriously, the kids had stellar manners. They spent the meal talking about the kids' day at school. Kenny was pretty quiet answering in short snippets whereas Ellie went on and on and on about her day. The kids put the dishes in the sink as their mother meticulously wrapped up the leftovers.

"Gotta stretch a meal." She admitted as Sara started running clean sink water. The kids scampered off to finish their homework and start their evening routines as the women cleaned up.

"So Opie should be home in a couple months." Sara started delicately, trying to get a read on the woman beside her. Donna hummed in response and handed her a clean dish which Sara dried and set aside.

"That'll help with the money thing, I mean." Sara continued knowing she was treading on uneven terrain.

"At what cost?" Donna scoffed.

"What do you mean?"

"Nothing, nevermind." Donna sighed.

"Hey, you can talk to me." Sara offered.

"Sara, you don't get it. The club is the only life you've known."

"So? What don't I get?

"You don't know how hard it is to have your husband get taken away for five years because of some stupid motorcycle club. You don't have a family to take care of; to provide for; kids to try to explain to why daddy is in prison." She sounded bitter and tired and angry, and Sara couldn't blame her. Still…

"Isn't the club helping you guys out while he's inside? Surely Gemma or Piney—"

"I don't want their help. I want Opie to come home. And stay home." She emphasized, handing Sara the last dish.

"I guess I just don't understand—"

"I hope you never have to." Donna curtly interrupted and excused herself to make sure the kids were getting ready for bed. Sara kept herself busy looking at the drawing on the fridge. She was sure that most of them were Ellie's doing, and she smiled at the report cards hanging as well. Ellie was a Straight A student, and Kenny seemed to be struggling in English but was doing well over all. Sara's smile faltered a little as her eyes fell on the prison visitation schedule hanging by a magnet.

She couldn't imagine how hard it was for the small woman to keep her family afloat. Sure, Sara had been with Ryan when he had done time but it had always been a few months at a time. Nothing like the five year sentence Opie was serving. Nonetheless, Sara was confident that Donna would be better off if she just accepted help from the club. She knew Gemma would move hell and high-water to help family.

When Donna reemerged a few minutes later, Sara held up a full wine glass.

"I'm sorry I pried; it's none of my business." Sara apologized. Donna hesitantly accepted the glass, and with it the apology. The women took a seat on the couch and started talking about work. The conversation moved to Sara's personal life, and Donna had made a discontented face when Sara admitted to being in a relationship with Happy. Donna didn't know the man personally, but knew the name and his reputation.

Sara explained her and Hap's history and current long-distance situation as best as possible and she could tell Donna was trying to be nonjudgmental of her newest friend.

"But the sex is so great!" Sara blurted with a laugh when Donna chastised her for continuing to sleep with Happy in the beginning even when he was a dick.

"I miss biker sex. Or just any sex, really." The little brunette giggled and sighed wistfully, a little wine-drunk.

"Well there's always the prison-clause." Sara pointed out with a snicker.

"You and I both know what a fucking hoax that is." Donna scoffed. "He'd put me in the ground the second he got out." Sara nodded in agreement. "No, it's been almost five years, I can tough it out for a few more months." Donna surrendered with a yawn.

"I should get going; I have work in the morning." Sara tactfully murmured. "I'm glad we did this. This was fun." Donna nodded in agreement and stood to follow Sara to the door.

"Have fun in Tacoma." Donna snickered and Sara shot her a dry look. "Fill me in when you get back on Sunday."

"Will do." Sara saluted and left the Winston household, content she had finally made a real friend.

A/N: Donna and Sara are friends now! What impact do you think this will have on Sara and Hap's relationship? Do you think its fair for him to be nervous about her visit? Should he still be second guessing their relationship? How do you think its gonna go? Any advice for our boy? Please review! I'd love to hear from you. Thank you in advance!