March 2008

Sara stared out the window sincerely regretting her decision to ride up to Tacoma in the truck. Half-Sack was driving and had been drinking Red Bulls the whole way. He hadn't shut up for the nearly 13 hour drive. On the plus side, he had to pee just as frequently as she did, so she wasn't the one taking the blame for having to stop frequently.

She had given up responding to Sack's talking and the spaz didn't seem to require a partner to have his conversations with, so she blocked out his rambling and stared at the taillights of Chibs' and Juice's bikes ahead of them leading the way. She sighed with relief as they pulled into the SAMTAC clubhouse lot. Sara slid out of the passenger side of the truck before grabbing her small duffle with her stuff and fiddled with the cuffs of the oversized SAMCRO hoodie she had stolen from Juice before they left. A few of the men filtered out of the clubhouse. Her uneasy face morphed into a smile at the sight of a familiar silhouette.

"Well hey there, beautiful." Kozik greeted with a smirk and open arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck as he lifted her into a hug.

"How are you in a t-shirt right now? It's like deep winter up here." She mumbled, wrapping her arms around her middle once he set her down.

"Winter? Oh honey, this is Spring. You California kids just aren't used to real seasons." He snickered, grabbing her bag and leading her towards the clubhouse. "Let's get you inside and warmed up… You know they recommend you get naked and huddle together for body warmth."

"Not gonna happen, Herman." She interjected.

"Worth a try, sweetheart." He set her bag on the floor by the bar and hopped up, drumming his hands on the bartop to get a blonde woman's attention. She was pretty, but also just a generic sweetbutt. Her hair very clearly dyed platinum, and she looked like she had gotten some lip injections recently…. Or stung by a bee, Sara wasn't really sure.

"Yo Rachelle, beer for me and a…"

"Rum and coke." Sara supplied.

"…rum and coke for my friend here." The blonde eyed Sara warily as she popped open a beer and mixed Sara's drink.

"Thanks." Sara mumbled, not in a great mood after her day of travel. The girl pursed her lips but didn't say anything and walked off. Sara glanced around nervously.

"He's out right now." Kozik supplied conspiratorially. Sara nodded, not surprised by Kozik knowing who she was looking for.

"Club stuff?" Sara sighed, not surprised.

"No, dropping off a car for delivery." Kozik answered eying the blonde beside him. "What's got you in a mood?" Sara gave him a small, self-conscious smile.

"Nothing, just a long day. Tired." She dismissed and turned her attention to her friend. "You and me. Let's talk." Kozik groaned at her business-time voice.

"I'm fine."

"You sure?"

"Yes, mom."

"Any urges?"

"Jesus Christ, Sara, you make me sound like a pedophile." He grumbled, peeling the label off his beer. "No, I'm fine. Honestly."

"You know you can tell me if you are struggling."

"I'm not struggling, Sare. Honestly. I'm feeling really good."

"Okay, I just worry about you and I know I haven't been up to check on you lately. I just don't want you to think I've abandoned you, because I haven't. You know that, right?"

"Yes'm." He stated with a cheesy smile and shoulder nudge.

"I'm serious, Kozik."

"Yeah, well, you've had a lot going on. But honestly, I'm solid. No worries." Kozik assured and his eyes looked up and past her. He nodded in the direction of the door. "Saved by the bell."

Sara looked up and saw Happy walk in his eyes scanning the nearly empty room. She felt her stomach flip when they locked on her and he started in their direction. She stood to meet him and he scanned her body eyes narrowing. He opened his mouth but was interrupted before words came out.

"Sara Harris." Her head snapped in the direction of the sound of her name and was met with the SAMTAC president. "Haven't seen you around these parts in a while."

"Well, thankfully, Kozik hasn't needed much of my attention lately." The blonde in question raised his beer in a 'cheers' fashion from his position at the bar. She noticed Lee's eyes fall to the loose hoodie she was wearing and his eyes squint minutely in judgment. Sara glanced at Happy whose jaw muscles ticked as he clenched his teeth. She was suddenly very self-conscious, feeling like a horse being sized up for either racing or for slaughter. So what? She didn't get all dolled up just to sit in a car all day, was that a sin? She had to force down a snarky comment and channeled her upbringing. Her sweet, polite smile slid right into place.

"Seems you've caught another one of my boy's attention." Lee responded knowingly and eyed Happy. Sara looked between the two hesitantly, hoping Hap would say something. He just stood beside her with his arms crossed, silent as ever. What the fuck was she supposed to say to that?

"Guess so…" She started awkwardly, trying to form a coherent thought that didn't make her sound like a total jackass. She was fucking tired and confused and Hap was just leaving her out here to dry. Lee just gave her a half-smile that didn't reach his eyes.

"Enjoy the party this weekend, Sara. I'll see ya around." Sara watched the President walk away with brows furrowed in confusion. She looked to Hap for some clarification but his eyes were following his President as well. His charcoal gaze swiveled to her and he looked around before spotting her bag and grabbing it from its place at Kozik's feet.

"Have fun kids." Kozik snickered as Hap grabbed her hand, leading her out into the cold of the parking lot without a word. No hug, no kiss, nothing.

"Where are we going?" She asked, confused as he handed her a helmet when they reached his bike.

"My place." His voice was raspier than she had remembered but she still felt the spark in her body that it always elicited.

"Oh."

"What?" His annoyance apparent at the edge of voice.

"No, I just assumed you stayed at the clubhouse."

"Sara, I've lived in Tacoma for the better part of fifteen years; I have an apartment." He stated as if it were obvious. Of course. Tacoma was his home. Right. As if she needed the reminder.

"Right; makes sense." She answered, feeling stupid. His bike roared to life and she climbed on the back obediently, watching him weave through the streets. She had been to Tacoma before, a few times actually, but hadn't really seen much of the city itself. His apartment was about fifteen minutes away, and once they parked she followed him in silence. Sara wondered if the buzzing hum of street lights was louder here, or if she was just hyperaware of the silence between them.

He locked the door behind them and kicked off his boots with Sara following suit timidly. She gazed around at his apartment and saw that it was much more homey than his place back in Charming. Made sense, once she thought about it. Why would be decorate a temporary place in California when his home was here. There was Harley paraphernalia hanging on the walls, some of it vintage stuff like signs or logos and some of it more recent. She noticed a few pictures hanging on the walls as well, and was itching to take a look but her eyes moved to Happy's hulking form as it moved through the apartment with ease. She tailed him like a puppy, unsure of what to do.

"Are you mad at me or something?" She finally asked as he peered into the fridge in silence. He grabbed a beer and popped it open before answering her.

"Whose jacket you wearing?"

"Juice's."

"Take it off." With a huff she pulled the black fabric over her head and balled it up on the counter.

"Better?" She asked, wrapping her arms around her core, shivering. He pulled his own over his head and handed it to her. She gave a half smile, grateful for the warmth but still confused.

"You don't wear SAMCRO in my clubhouse." He answered her silent question. "Makes me look bad."

"Seriously? It's not like it's a secret I live in Charming."

"It's also not a secret you're with me."

"Hap—" She started.

"You fuckin' a member of SAMCRO?" he snapped sharply.

"…No, but—" She answered drily, tired of his condescension. She got the point.

"No buts." He shot back. Somehow she managed not to roll her eyes.

"It's not an issue in Charming…" She grumbled under her breath.

"Where are you?" He pressed.

"…Tacoma."

"Do you know how it makes me look to have you walking around in another man's clothes?"

"Jesus Christ, Hap. It's a jacket. I was cold. I'm sorry, I get it. Lesson learned." She snapped, walking out of the room only to realize she didn't know the layout of the apartment. She stomped down the hall nonetheless and opened a door she hoped was the bathroom.

"That's the laundry room." His gruff voice shouted from his vantage point.

"Fuck you." She shot back and went in anyway, closing the door behind her.

He rolled his eyes and finished his beer, tossing the bottle in the trash before following after her. He opened the laundry door and flipped on the light. She was sitting on the washer in a huff, fingers playing with the drawstring of the hood. If Juice's had made her look small, she was tiny in his with the black fabric practically drowning her.

Happy leaned one shoulder against the door jamb and watched her pout in silence.

"I missed you." She finally mumbled so quietly he almost didn't catch her words. With a sigh he moved in between her knees and tilted her face up to meet his. He pressed a simple kiss to her lips and let her wrap him in a hug.

"You do look better in Tacoma gear." He teased and she playfully slapped his back.

"You just had to ruin the moment." She sighed dramatically.

Happy collapsed over her with a jerk. Their heaving breaths were drowned out by the shrill ring of his burner phone. With a sigh he grabbed it off the nightstand before resting his cheek on her bare chest as he answered gruffly. Sara caressed the smooth skin of his scalp with her nails as she started to doze.

"No, we are gonna lay low… yea brother, let me know how it goes. See ya." Happy's raspy voice washed over her tired body like a lullaby. She distantly heard the click of his phone closing and felt him shift to put it back on the nightstand. His lips soon pressed gently to her throat pulling her back from the edge of sleep. She hummed pleasantly in response to his fingertips tracing her ribs.

"You need to go?" She mumbled as his mouth moved down to her collarbones and sternum. He made a sound of negation, surprising her. Happy always had to leave when his phone rang. "Really?"

"Been without this body for too long. Gotta take advantage when I can." He rasped, nudging her willing legs apart to settle between them.

"And the club is okay with that?" She asked hesitantly, more awake as her brain processed her thoughts and his sensual ministrations.

"Don't worry 'bout the club." He dodged. She knew he was dodging it. He knew she knew. Her concern disappeared just as her nipple disappeared between his soft lips.

"Please, Hap." She moaned quietly, arching into him.

"Tell me." He urged, releasing her breast and sliding a hand between her legs. Their first round had been frantic and rushed as they both chased release. Now that some of the pressure had been released, they Happy wanted to take his time with her. Her hand pressed urgently against his shoulder, guiding his mouth down her body.

"Mmm, Hap." She mewed when he slipped a finger between her silky folds.

"Talk to me." The gravel of his voice sent a shiver down her spine as her belly warmed.

"Lick me." Her hand tried to push his head between her legs but he snatched her wrist and pinned it to her side.

"Where?" he urged, licking the soft skin on her hip. She tried to pull her wrist free and when that proved futile she shifted her hips towards his hot breath. "What's got you so shy tonight?" He questioned as his tongue barely grazed the seam of her opening. "What? Has it been so long you've forgotten how to ask your man for what you want?" His fingers pressed into her sharply and her hips jumped off the bed as electricity raced from her pussy to the tips of her limbs. Her nails bit into the wrist holding her hand captive.

"Happy, please." She begged as she pressed her head back into the bed. His fingers continued to work at a tantalizing pace, slowly dragging out and then thrusting in hard. His body moved over hers so that they were face to face.

"Open your eyes, Sara." He rasped lowly. Her eyes fluttered momentarily before her light blue eyes met his dark charcoal orbs. Desire burned brightly in her gaze. "You gonna be quiet all night?" He probed gently before dropping his mouth to nibble her neck. The faint sound of her moan was drowned by the erotic squelch of his fingers working her over. His looked down at her again as his fingers slowed to a stop.

"Hey, you okay?"He finally asked the heaving blonde beneath him. She nodded. "You're just… I don't know… quiet."

"I can be quiet." She countered.

"You can be; you just aren't usually."

"I don't know, I just… it's stupid." She dismissed and reached to pull him down for a kiss which he artfully, and regretfully, dodged.

"Well it kinda feels like you aren't really into this."

"No it's not that. Clearly since we already fucked once—"

"During which you were also quiet." He interjected.

"I was not!"

"You were."

"I'm just… I don't know, I feel self-conscious." She admitted covering her face with her hands as her cheeks burned hot.

"Over what?"

"I don't know, being loud or whatever. You have thin walls and it's not like your place in Charming or my place; you've lived here for a while and you have a life here and I don't know if you know your neighbors and get along with them and don't want them to hear some girl screaming at the top of her lungs—"

"You wouldn't be the first." He snickered. She scoffed and pushed his shoulder to move him off of her.

"Forget it." She mumbled climbing off the bed and grabbing his shirt off the floor to pull over her head. She needed a barrier between them right now.

"Sara, don't be like that; come back to bed…" He rolled his eyes at her ridiculous reaction.

"How do you expect me to be when you throw the fact you've fucked other girls in my face?"

"I haven't since we've been together." He clarified quickly.

"It doesn't matter! I don't want to hear about you making other girls scream while we are in bed together. Like how did you even think that would help the situation? I'm sitting here telling you how self-conscious I feel and you just throw that in."

"Sara, you're overreacting."

"NOT HELPING!" She shouted in awe. How could he be so dense? "When has it ever been a good idea to tell a girl she's overreacting?"

"Well you are."

"Ok fine. So you've made a bunch of girls scream?" She asked in a sarcastic sultry voice. "You're a big, tough guy that can make any bitch cum?" She continued, slowly making her way back to him. He snorted and shrugged, watching with interest as her hands sensually caressed her own body.

"Well you aren't the only guy to make me cum. You aren't the first man to make me scream until I lose my voice." She practically moaned as she stood before him, one hand inching between her legs and the other teasing a nipple through the cotton of his shirt.

She heard him growl and in a flash he was towering in front of her.

"That's not fucking funny, Sara." He hissed, chest heaving in agitation. The air was thick between them, tension rolling off of them in waves.

"No shit." She snapped, dropping the act to cross her arms defensively. "Doesn't feel great, does it?"

"You made your fucking point. I hope you're happy." He snapped, walking past her into the bathroom and slamming the door.

"Well, I'm not unhappy about it." She grumbled to herself defiantly. After a moment she sighed and rolled her eyes, making her way to the bathroom door. Tentatively she tried the handle and it opened a crack. She supposed it was a good sign that he hadn't locked her out.

"Hap?" There was no response so she pushed it open. His form was hunched over the sink, eyes closed and forehead resting against the mirror. The dim light of the bathroom cast shows that trace the peaks and valleys of his musculature in a way she couldn't help but appreciate. She entered and stood behind him, leaning against the wall watching him. The quiet buzz of the lightbulb screamed in the silence between the two adults. She pushed off the wall and nervously moved behind him. She knew he had to know she was there. His senses were honed like a cat. Gingerly she placed her hands on his large shoulders and leaned to press a kiss between his shoulder blades.

"I'm sorry if I hurt your feelings." She apologized and with an annoyed sigh he turned to face her.

"It's not about my fucking feelings Sara; I'm not a child. It's about you knowing I don't handle shit like that well, and you doing it anyway."

"And you think I like it when you rub it in my face that a ton of girls all over the West Coast know how great you are in bed?" He rolled his eyes and huffed. "I'm serious Hap. I was actually trying to talk out my problems for once and you basically threw dirt in my face." She admitted. His dark eyes scanned her, his words hitting him hard.

"You're right. I'm sorry." He finally acquiesced. He pulled her into a tight hug, kissing the top of her messy blonde hair.

"I'm sorry I piss you off so much." Her face was buried in his chest and her position muffled her words. He chuckled and kissed the top of her head again before running a hand over her hair to smooth it down.

"It's fine, baby."

"Can we go to bed now?" She asked, her response still muffled.

"Do you want to finish what we started?" He asked suggestively sliding a hand down her spine. There was a pause before she shook her head. His hand stopped and he pulled back to look down at her.

"I'm tired. The ride was long and Half-Sack wouldn't shut up and then the whole thing with the hoodie and then us fighting again now… I'm just… I'm not in the mood. I'm exhausted and I just want you to hold me." She finished in one breath, inhaling once before adding an embarrassed, "Sorry."

" 'SFine. Come on." He nudged her towards the door.

"This doesn't change anything, but you look really sexy in the bathroom light." She grumbled as she walked back towards the bed. He barked out a laugh before pulling the shirt over her head. They climbed in bed, Happy settling on his back with Sara tucked against his side, cheek on his chest and one leg thrown over his hips.

"I missed this." She mumbling quietly, fatigue catching up with her as her eyes fell closed.

"Night baby." He whispered. Distantly, she heard him flick on the TV… it sounded like maybe a sports game… but she was out before she could even register which sport.

A/N: Not my best, I know. I moved back to the States just in time to have to pack up and evacuate a hurricane for a week and then started a new job immediately upon returning. So its been a busy month. Thank you for all of your kind words of encouragement. It blows my mind to see how many amazing readers really seem to love this story. I love reading your messages and your excitement. Please let me know if there is anything you would like to see more of or less of. Thank you again for your patience.