March 2008

Happy leaned back into the couch, eyes fixed on the television screened but unfocused. Sara was holed up in his room putting the finishing touches on her look for the St Paddy's party; she'd been in there for a while so God knows what she was gonna look like when she came out. He didn't really care. She could wear a t-shirt and jeans and still draw attention in the crowd of bikers. It was that damn hair and sweet blue gaze. He knew she always drew eyes; would she someday realize that she could do better than him? A thirty-something high school dropout biker? His foot tapped of its own volition as his mind wandered. He could feel the familiar vines of anxiety threading through his body. At this rate, he'd need to pop a pill before they left.

The more he thought on it, the more it felt like something was off with Sara. Sure, she'd been weird last night but she had certainly made it up to him this morning. Nonetheless, she seemed… off. She was missing the brightness in her eyes; the fire that had initially drawn him to her was gone. He wasn't sure if her lackluster spirit was something happening back in Charming or the discomfort of being out of her element. After he had told her fact that Lee didn't want her around during club business, she hadn't brought it up again but Hap knew it hurt her. Just as much as he knew it had hurt her when he was a fucking jerk to her months ago before they hooked up. She put up a tough front, but he often had to remind himself that she was only twenty-two.

Hap knew now that she was trustworthy, but in reflection he could see what an ass he had been in the beginning. Family was important to her, and here she was trying to forge a new one after hers has imploded and she was being stopped at every turn. Sara was a strong fucking woman but everyone had a breaking point; maybe she was finally reaching hers. He hated the idea that his club was the reason she was retreating into herself. The club should have her back; not be trying to stab her in it.

His attention was drawn back to the present when he heard the click of her heels on his laminate flooring, signaling her approach. She emerged from the hall and his breath caught in his chest. Fuck, she was gorgeous. Her blue eyes met his charcoal ones, a shyness evident in her innocent blush as his eyes raked her. The black matte leather wrapping her legs looked painted on. The delicate flare of her hips was accentuated by the tight material, and he noticed how firm and full her ass looked as she turned around slowly for his approval.

Physically drawn to her, he buried a hand in her long soft blonde waves before lowering his lips to hers. His other hand found her narrow waist, cinched impossibly smaller by the deep emerald satin bustier pushing up her breasts. He broke the kiss and let his forehead fall against hers as his eyes scanned the round curve of skin swelling just below her collarbones. Her tits looked deliciously full and his fingers fell from her hair to softly trace a path across the juicy flesh.

"You like?" his eyes flashed up to hers and he saw a hopeful desperation in them. He was stunned by her desire to please him. It was beyond her usual submission to him; no, this was something different. She needed his approval. In the back of his mind, a small red flag was waved but a larger, more dominate part of him squashed that feeling and he was filled with desire. He gripped one of her small hands and pressed it to the front of his jeans so she could feel just how much he liked it.

"You look amazing." His mumbled response was muffled by her lips as her fingers squeezed his growing length. "We should just stay home." He offered with a small smirk. She pulled back her head, eyes wide.

"What? No!" He eyed her, put off by her weird, almost alarmed reaction.

"Why? Who gives a fuck about some party when we can have our own right here?"

"I mean… if you want… I just thought that you'd want to go and see the guys, you know…" She rambled and he released her.

"What's your deal?" skepticism evident in his voice.

"Nothing." She squeaked quickly.

"Sara…" he warned and she released a sigh.

"I just wanted to dress to impress." She shrugged and picked at some invisible lint on her satin top.

"And I'm telling you that you did." He pointed out as if it were obvious.

"No, not you— I mean yes, I wanted to impress you, obviously, but—"

"Well who the fuck else are you trying to impress?" Happy rasped, angered by the thought of her trying to impress some other man.

"Your club! Your fucking family, Hap!" She finally shouted, snapping out of her passiveness.

"What?" He was dumbstruck.

"They don't like me—"

"Yes, they do."

"You literally told me last night that your President doesn't even want me around." She snapped, crossing her arms defensively. He exhaled in exasperation. Fuck.

"Sara, its fine, I promise—"

"Anyway" she interrupted loudly "I just thought I needed to make a better impression than when I rolled up looking like a fucking troll in someone else's jacket." She admitted, ignoring his eye roll.

"Okay, first of all you didn't look like a troll. And as much as I appreciate your need for my guys to like you, you can't get fucking mad at me for wanting to fuck you when you look like that." He gestured to her outfit and a sheepish blush heated her cheeks.

"I just don't want you to be embarrassed to be with me." She sighed quietly. "I know you probably get shit for banging the rat's daughter." She spat. He winced at her namesake.

"Sara, it's okay, I promise. I can handle any of their stupid shit." She nodded and forced a smile, but as much as she wanted to be comforted by his words, the only thing she heard was between the lines: he was getting shit about her. When was he going to realize she wasn't worth the trouble and leave?

"Let's just go." He sighed, grabbing a beanie for himself as she grabbed her own black leather jacket. She watched as he grabbed his anxiety meds from the kitchen counter and popped one, chasing it with a handful of water from the sink. Guilt washed over her. She was making his anxiety worse. She just needed to suck it up; he'd already told her before he hated when she made issues out of little things.

"Ready?" he rasped, zipping up his sweatshirt. She nodded and followed him out to his bike. For once the bite of the chilly air didn't bother her. It stung, but she welcomed it.

An hour later she felt warmer, a fuzzy liquid heat radiating from the alcohol in her stomach. Happy had brought her around and introduced her to some of the guys and she had blushed under their ravenous gaze. Pride was rolling off of Happy and she knew she had succeeded in being the smoke show they no doubt expected her to be. Everyone had been nice thus far, albeit a little awkward since they didn't seem like they knew what to say to her. She tried not to take it personally.

Happy had introduced her to Lee's old lady, Alanna. She was a pretty brunette, probably mid-thirties and she oozed power. She was surprisingly nice, but Sara could feel her critical gaze picking her apart, no doubt wondering what was so special about her that Happy had tied himself down.

Sara ended up finding Half-Sack, Bobby, and Tig, and practically glued herself to them. Soon though, the SAMCRO guys were starting to get restless, and started looking for some pussy in which to bury themselves. Rather than overstay her welcome, she busied herself by ordering another drink and a beer for Hap. She felt the dirty looks from the sweetbutts but she tried to let them roll off of her as she waited for her drinks. It worked until she felt the shove of an elbow as a woman sidled up beside her at the bar.

"So you're the bitch that has Hap all tangled up." The woman scoffed and looked down her nose at Sara. She was blonde—platinum blonde—and wore a crop top and tight shorts showing off a flat stomach and a belly piercing. For a brief moment, Sara wondered how the woman managed to wear such a revealing outfit and not freeze, but her concern was short-lived as the girl's words registered in Sara's mind.

"Excuse me?" Sara snapped turning to face the sweetbutt.

"You heard me… slut." The girl shot back with a smirk and her two friends –also blonde –snickered.

"I'm sorry, but how am I the slut in this scenario?" Sara volleyed. "Because it looks to me like you're just some sweetbutt bitch that gets passed around and I'm the one dating a Son."

"Oh, don't act like he's the first Son you've been with, honey. We all know that you made the rounds like the rest of us." Sara's mouth dropped open and she scoffed. Before she could defend herself the girl continued. "Tell me, what kind of dirty shit did you have to let him do to you to keep him around? I mean, we—" she gestured to herself and her friends "—all know the kind of kink he's into, first hand."

Across the clubhouse, Happy's eyes narrowed when he saw the three blondes interrogating his girlfriend at the bar. Mother. Fucker. They were a group that, at one time, had been his varsity team if you will. They'd been his go-to when he was looking to burn off some tension—hell they'd been down for anything— and he knew they had all thought that at some point he'd wife one of them up. He could only imagine the vile things the bitches were spitting towards Sara.

"Fuck, fuck, fuck." He groaned, hopping up and making his way through the crowd. He felt a heavy hand on his chest stop him and followed it to the face of his President.

"This is a woman's problem. If she can't handle her shit on her own, she shouldn't be here."

"You know that shit ain't fair." Happy retorted. "They are ganging up on her. Probably sayin' shit that disrespects me." His eyes shot to the petite brunette tucked under Lee's arm. He'd known Alanna since she'd show up as a bright eyed young little thing. In fact, the two were pretty good friends. Happy had always gravitated towards blondes and, subsequently, had never chased after her in her single if he had, Lee pretty much staked his claim on her early on and Happy never even had the opportunity to see her as anything more.

"Ally, come on." The girl sighed and nudged her husband's heavy arm off her shoulder.

"Alanna." Lee warned quietly, she rolled her eyes and shook his grip off her wrist.

"You owe me, Happy." She called over her shoulder as she pushed through the crowd. Happy felt the crushing glare of his President.

"Lee, treating her like shit won't undo what her dad did." Happy finally snapped. "I trust her, and you making this a thing, means you don't trust me."

"It ain't like that, stop taking it so personally." Lee dismissed, watching as his wife told off the three girls harassing Sara. They were club favorites but pitvipers nonetheless, and Happy had likely been right to accuse them of disrespect.

"Yea? Then what the hell's it like?"

"Your head ain't in the game since you linked up with her." Lee shot back in a hushed tone.

"I'm fine, brother. I've done everything you've asked of me without even blinking." Happy defended. Lee made a sound of disagreement but didn't elaborate.

"You really wanna get in bed with that family?" Lee finally asked with a snort.

"I'm with her, brother. If you can't deal with that, you let me know and I'll put in for a transfer." Happy threatened. Lee's eyes widened. In all his years knowing the bald enforcer and all the awful shit he'd asked of him, Happy had never once threatened to leave.

"You wouldn't." Lee scoffed. Happy shrugged.

"Push me and see." Happy challenged and turned his back to make his way to Sara who was whispering with Alanna. Thankfully, the crowd seemed too drunk to really pay attention to the drama unfolding.

"Everything okay here, ladies?"

"It's fine." Sara dismissed, though she was visibly upset.

"Just some bitches thinking they can start shit in my house. You know how it is." Alanna dismissed with a pleasant smile and a wave of her hand.

"Thanks Ally." Happy stated sincerely and the brunette nodded before heading back towards her husband who was giving her a dirty look.

"Is she gonna get in trouble for that?"

"Nothing she can't handle. He's wrapped around her little finger." Happy sighed, turning back to his girl. "What'd they say?"

"Nothing, typical sweetbutt bullshit."

"Sara… tell me."

"Hap, I said its fine." She stated firmly, turning her head away from him. "Let's just grab a drink and move on." She stressed, handing him the beer that had been sweating on the bartop during the whole exchange. He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and glared towards the blonde trio sulking by the pool tables.

"I'm sorry shit here had been tough." He murmured into her ear. She shrugged and took a sip of her drink. Her empty hand reached up to lace fingers with the hand hanging by her neck, seeking out his comfort in her foul mood.

"Hold on to that anger; I'll let ya take it out on me later tonight." The deepness of his raspy voice sent a small shiver down her spine and the small smile on her lips signaled that his attempts to cheer her up were working.

"Would it make you feel better to know you're the hottest chick in here?" He squeezing her fingers playfully. She snorted and he could tell she rolled her eyes based on her mannerisms. Happy stopped and pulled her to face him.

"I'm serious." He rasped, his dark eyes boring into her with an intensity that was just so… Happy. She sighed and smiled up at him, nodding slightly.

"Guess you're a pretty lucky guy then." She offered and he smirked, glancing around the packed room briefly. A few people—men and women alike—were watching them with interest. He needed to send a message. Before she could comprehend his moves, she was pulled to his chest and as a searing kiss pressed to her lips. A small gasp escaped before she melted into him, letting his hot mouth mould hers. The hand holding his beer wrapped around her waist while his free one wrapped in the hair at the base of her neck. His tongue swept hers as his grip in her hair tightened. He bent her backwards slightly before he used her hair to pull her from the kiss and dropped his soft lips to her neck. His teeth grazed the delicate skin of her throat before pulling her back to an upright position and pulling away. The whole thing lasted a few seconds but it left Sara dazed for much longer.

"Guess so." He quipped as if nothing had happened.

"Guess so." She echoed with a loopy smile.

A/N: Okay guys, do you want me to A) post a sexy chapter about later that night when they get home from the party, or B) keep the plot rolling and move on to the next big thing? Bigger plot things are gonna start happening closer together from here on out. We shall see if Happy and Sara can weather all the shit or if it will break them down so much they throw in the towel.

Thanks for reading and reviewing! Almost to 500 reviews and my heart might explode with disbelief. Thank you for the great responses. I love hearing from you!