In Spite OfAll This The World Will Still Continue

"Get in there!" I heard Happy growl out from something behind me. I didn't bother to turn around until I heard him cry out an indignant... no ANGRY "ANDIE!"

I dropped the pan I had in my hands into the sink of soapy water before I turned to face him. He had Miles by the scruff of his neck to push his new brother through his Aunt's living room. SHIT. Happy was pissed, but who had pushed his buttons? He liked everything to be in its place, so I automatically moved to the sink to start washing the dishes when I arrived in the kitchen.

I hadn't gotten a lot of sleep the night before... and no, Happy had nothing to do with it. Well, not in the fun sense. Now that his mom was feeling better, she wanted have a talk with me. After I helped her sister to bed, Happy's mom and I chatted over tea and biscuits until he got in. Trust me, the look of surprise on when he and the guys found us sitting in the living room was beyond priceless. His mom quickly retired to her room then Happy lead me to the spare bedroom.

Before I could ask him any questions about why he was the only one in the house, he explained, "Miles and Kozik will share cargo watch. Let's go to bed."

I twisted in his hold so that I could grip his cut in my hands as I walked backwards. "To bed you say?" I questioned playfully.

"Yes," he replied in the old severe, humorless tone that I hardly ever heard from him anymore. "To sleep."

"Just sleep, Grumpy?"

Once we were in the bedroom, he shut the door then detached himself from my hold. When he just moved to disrobe by hanging his cut on a hook beside the door, I stepped back to watch him. Shit, I guess this is why they say you shouldn't mix business with pleasure. After he stripped off his t-shirt and undershirt, I wrapped my arms around his waist and kissed his bare back. I tried to relax against his body, but he quickly pulled my hands away from his waist so that he could turn around and step away from my reach.

"Happy?" I questioned as I watched him continue to pull on an oversized t-shirt as his jeans dropped to the floor. He then picked up his jeans and hung them up beside his cut.

When he noticed I hadn't moved, Happy finally replied, "We're under my Aunt's roof. We can't end our day like we usually do."

"Okay," I agreed in a careful, confused tone. But a goodnight kiss doesn't always have to lead to sex." he watched as I changed into my Grandpa styled flannel night shirt and boxer shorts (what can I say? We were at his Mom's house, so I wanted to be modest.) He raised a challenging eyebrow to which I replied, "What? It doesn't. Excuse me for wanting to be close to you after spending fourteen months apart."

"So, what was that show in the hallway about?" He asked as he got into bed.

I laughed, mostly to myself, as I folded my clothes to place them back in my overnight bag. "Sorry, but I was an opening to tease Kozik. I will NEVER pass up an opportunity to rub some salt in his wounds. You can't blame me or get mad for that."

"Blame? No, but..." He lifted the covers to invite me into the bed. "But one of these days I WILL want you to tell me more about that story. But not tonight. We need to sleep tonight."

"Oh... Okay..." I said, barely masking my confusion.

I took my time turning out the lights before I made my way to the bed. By the time I finally crawled under the covers, Happy had already settled onto his onto his right side with his back facing my side of the bed. I slipped under the covers on my left side so that my back was facing his. You know, since we were just going to bed and all.

As I started to settle in my spot, I felt Happy shift on the mattress. Then I felt his arm land on my side to pull me into his chest. He then kissed my hair and mumbled, "Sweet dreams, Princess."

Sleep? Yeah, right. That so wasn't happening. Now I had to try to figure out how to tell him about my past with one of his brothers. Normally, it would be an easy tale to tell, but as much as I joked, I didn't want Kozik dead. And if I wasn't careful with my words, Happy wouldn't hesitate to breach Club protocol to make Kozik pay... For crimes that I had already issued a sentence and gotten my justice.

"Princess?" He questioned against my hair.

I hugged his arms against my chest as I replied, "Good night, Grumpy."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

"Get over there and clean up your mess!" Happy ordered Miles again. I quickly moved away from the sink. One I was within reach, Happy wrapped an arm around my shoulders then said, "He's the low man on the totem pole, Princess. He should be doing your dishes, not the other way around."

"I know," I answered as I hugged him around the waist. "But I was them sitting there and thought that I'd clean up before I started making breakfast."

"That's very thoughtful of you, but he made the mess so he can clean it," Happy stated as he wrapped his other arm around me.

I rested my head on his chest while we both watched Miles finish washing his dishes. The poor guy looked really uncomfortable with us watching him, but I didn't do anything to change my position. It was partially because he was basically still a Prospect. This year wasn't supposed to be easy on him. But if I was being completely honest it was because of Happy. He seemed to want to stand here and watch Miles and I wasn't inclined to argue. Especially since it meant that I got to do it while hugging him tight.

"So, I was..." I started until I felt Happy go completely rigid in my arms. I then lowered my voice to ask, "What's wrong?"

"Was that the truck starting up?"

I tilted my head to listen then answered, "Maybe Kozik is just moving it to make it easier to pack?" He scowled at that question, so I quickly added, "Or not. Let's go check."

We both turned to rush to the door with Miles hot on our heels. The first thing we saw when we got out to the yard was Kozik running towards the house from the back fence. Where the fuck was he coming from? Had he just climbed the fence to get back INTO the yard? No, that didn't make sense, right?

"SHIT!" Kozik cursed out when he noticed that the truck was gone.

I very cautiously turned to face the direction that he was looking and whispered my own slew of expletives. Happy looked between Kozik and the empty driveway, looking like he was trying to decide what to do and say next.

"Andie, go back into the house," he finally instructed as he glared at Kozik.

I stared at him for as second before I opened my mouth to protest. When he noticed that I hadn't moved, Happy moved just his eyes to glare at me. As soon as our gazes met, his expression softened and he sounded much less severe when he said, "Please, Princess, go back into the house."

I nodded then walked over to his side to kiss his cheek. I wanted to say something to him, more precisely I wanted to thank him for correcting himself, but I knew I couldn't do that. At least not right now. A good Old Lady does was she's told. Alright, I get that but I refuse to be treated like an abused dog and everyone in the MC knew that. So, for now I just kissed Happy's cheek with a mental note to thank him properly when we got home.

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

I knew Happy had called Jax to tell there had been some sort of hiccup with their delivery, but I didn't know when the guys were expected to arrive. So, my task now was to keep his mom and aunt distracted so that they wouldn't been asking too many questions about what was happening. That turned into me finally becoming privy to the Lowman family apple pie recipe. The secret ingredient is love. No, wait... it's lard. I don't think Happy's mom got the memo that us Old Ladies were expected to watch our waistlines.

We were just getting the first batch (yes, we had made enough for six pies) into the oven when I heard the guys arrive. I tried to ignore them, even when they were yelling, but that proved fruitless when I heard Opie yell, "SAVE IT FOR CHURCH!"

"Andie?" I heard someone calling out like it wasn't the first time she had tried to get my attention. "Sweetheart? Are you okay?"

I looked down at my hands and realized why Happy's mom sounded worried. Somehow, I had gotten so distracted that I had started to wash the dish sponge with the dish cloth. Fuck, I must look like a crazy person.

"Andie?" She tried again.

"What? Oh... Shoot... Sorry, I'm fine," I answered as I started to dry my hands. I just... I'll be back in a second to finish the rest of the dishes."

"Sweetheart, I don't think that's a good idea."

"I... I'm not going to meddle, I just want to say hi to my brother."

"And-…"

I was out the door before she could finish saying my name. This was a bad idea. I knew it was, but I still had this feeling that I needed to check on Opie. Don't ask me why, maybe it was that twin psychic connection you hear people talk about all the time. I really don't know, but I had to check on him, see him with my own eyes before I could continue on with my day.

As soon as I was out in the yard, I sprinted over to Opie. He barely had a chance to react before I threw myself against his chest. I burrowed my face into his chest while I tightened my arms around his waist under his cut.

He combed his fingers through my hair with his left hand while his right rubbed comforting circles on my back over my tattoo. "Hey... Are you okay, Drea?"

"Better now. You know..." I leaned back and lost my words when I saw the cut on the bridge of his nose. "What the hell happened?"

"I'm fine," he replied dismissively as his hand fell away from my hair.

"I didn't ask how you were, I asked what the hell happened, Harry."

"Drea..."

"It was a misunderstanding with old friends," Jax explained as he stepped over to Opie's side.

I reached out my right hand to brush my thumb over the abrasion on Jax's left cheek. "I... I thought that was all settled at the wedding."

"Apparently it wasn't," Opie answered.

I scowled but before I could say anything else, Jax said, "But it is now... Thanks to our new friends."

"Really?" I questioned, staring Opie in the eye.

"Really," he replied with an easy smile.

I moved my left arm around Jax's waist so that I could pull both of them into a hug. I wedged myself between them, forcing them to wrap an arm around my back. When we were growing up, everyone used to joke that we acted more like triplets than friends. We may not all share DNA, but I've always considered both of them my brothers. Whenever I was away from Charming this is what I missed the most: having my brothers by my side to help me feel safe.

"I love you," I said while my chin was on Jax's shoulder. I then took a step back and placed my hands on a cheek of each of their faces. "You take care of each other today or I'll go medieval on your asses. Understood?"

"Absolutely," they replied in unison.

Jax kissed my cheek then turned to walk away. Opie leaned down to kiss my forehead and said, "I'm alright, Sis."

"I know," I answered with a warm smile. I ran my finger over the cut on his nose then added, "But as your big sister, I get to worry about you anyways. Ride safe."

Before he could reply, I walked over to Happy's side. After I placed a sound kiss on his lips, I said, "Watch their backs. And... Get home safe to me, okay?"

"Of course."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Happy burst through the door of the spare bedroom and scooped me up into his arms before I realized it was him. The passionate kiss he placed on my lips made me forget to be upset that I dropped my book and lost my place. I mean, who could be worried about re-reading a couple of paragraphs when your boyfriend had his tongue down your throat and was turning you into a puddle of jelly? Not me, that's who.

I'm not embarrassed to say I chased his lips and let out a low whine as he pulled away. My cheeks didn't turn red until I heard him chuckle. I'm fairly certain it was in response to the look I was currently wearing on my face.

"You are so beautiful, Princess." My eyebrows tilted into a scowl causing him to bark out a laugh. "Even when you scowl at me or look like you want to castrate me, you are the most beautiful woman I have ever met."

"Thank you, but... why...? Why are you buttering me up with compliments?"

"Because... I need you to pack up all your stuff and head home."

"What? Why?"

He pet my head then pulled my face forward to kiss me. "The shit with the stolen cargo, it... it could block back on us. I want to make sure you're safe."

"But if I stay here, I can make sure your mom and aunt are safe and..." I trailed off when he started shaking his head. "Okay... What am I missing?"

"They would never actually hurt two elderly women. But you? I... I don't think they would hesitate to hurt you if you're here."

"And that would be really shitty for them to see," I said as the realization of what he was trying to tell me hit me. "Okay, I'll... Let me just go say good bye then it won't take me long before I'm ready to go."

I got up and started for the door but stopped when Happy called out, "Andie?" I turned back towards him as he caught my right hand. "Thank you for not fighting me on this."

I stepped into him so I could kiss his lips. "Thank you for not barking orders at me. I'm trying to be a good Old Lady and it helps that you don't treat me like I'm a little bitch."

"That's because you're nobody's bitch... and you're my Princess."

"You know it, Grumpy."

Happy was still in the spare bedroom after I finished saying my goodbyes. He was sitting on the bed with my bag in front of him. It looked like he had started packing everything up for me, but he got distracted by something. Whatever it was had him completely enthralled because he hadn't noticed that I had reentered the room.

I had to admit that I loved just watching Happy sometimes. When he was with the club or in any sort of public setting, he kept his emotions hidden from everyone. But when he thought he was alone, I could usually read his emotions plainly on his face. Right now, he was looking very thoughtful, as in pensive. Whatever he was reading was making him... Wait! Reading? What was he...?

SHIT. I took a couple of steps forward so that I could confirm what I already knew was true. Happy was ready my journal. He still didn't look like he had noticed I was standing beside him, so I cleared my throat to make my presence known.

"How did you find out about the drugs?" He asked without taking his eyes off the page.

"Opie." That got him to move his eyes to my face. I sat down on the bed beside him as I explained, "He needed a sounding board and he knows whatever he says to me stays with me."

"What about this?" He asked as he tapped the cover of my now closed journal.

I placed my hand over his that was now laying on the cover replying, "It isn't for public consumption. Sometimes I have shit to say that I know no one wants to hear, so I write it down. I've been doing it since I learned how to write. No one knows about my journals because it the stuff I know no one wants to talk with me about. You were supposed to see it yet."

"Yet? So...? Does that mean you wanted to tell me these thoughts you've had about the Cartel?"

I cupped his chin to turn his face towards me. "I want to tell you everything, but I don't know if we're at that point in our relationship yet. I want us to get to a point where I don't have to write anything down in those stupid books because I can talk with you about it."

"I'd like that too. So? Is that how you really feel?"

"Yes," I whispered around the lump forming in my throat. "I... I don't trust them. I don't believe that they won't get you or Opie hurt... or worse. They... You're just faceless mules to them... they don't care what happens to you so long as they get their guns. I know it isn't the popular..."

He leaned forward to kiss me into silence before he said, "You talk a lot."

I playfully glared at him because he only said that to tease me now. Thankfully he didn't say it to me all that often. I then kissed him and retorted, "You don't talk enough."

He let out a growl before he pulled me into his lap. My laughter was muffled by him kissing me again. I remained silent while I tried to gauge his reaction. He combed my hair back with his fingers then said, "And you wrote pretty much exactly what I've been thinking too."

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Since I had been exiled to Happy's house for the next few days (hopefully it didn't take them long to get everything figured out), I decided to head into TM. Sure, I was wasn't all "buddy buddy" with Tara but I still some level of refuge when I was there. It was the one place I always knew I could find family and feel loved.

As I pulled my bike into the parking lot, the first person I notice was dad. He was sitting at the picnic table looking out towards the row of the MC's bikes. I was tempted to ride up to him, but I didn't want to breach any of the known protocols. Bikes stayed int the lot and didn't'[ go near or into the clubhouse.

So, I parked in my usual spot by the office. As I removed my helmet, I noticed Gemma marching up to Clay who was over by the bikes. She said something to him that I couldn't hear and his reply was to... What the fuck? He grabbed her by the hair so that he could angrily give her his reply. Seriously, what the actual fuck?

I must have been too stunned to move or think because the next thing I knew I heard Gemma saying, "Andie? Sweetheart? The garage is closed for the day..."

She let that last thought trail off, so I quickly replied, "I know. I... I came to see Dad."

She smiled warmly and stroked my cheek saying, "You're a good daughter, Andie. One of the rare ones."

She then continued into her office while I continued to stare at the empty space she had just vacated. Did I mention, what the fuck?

Thankfully my feet didn't need my brain to function. They started walking towards my dad before my brain caught up with me. I was still reeling at what I had witnessed between Gemma and Clay because since I was a little girl, they had always been my example of a perfect couple. How could they go from picture perfect to nearly having a domestic in the parking lot of TM? That was... What...?

"Short Stack? Are you okay?"

I shook my head to clear the half questions and other thoughts when I felt Dad touched my forearm. He looked so worried that I almost laughed. ALMOST. I was alert enough to know that laughter was not an appropriate response right now.

"I'm okay, Daddy."

He gave me a truly unimpressed look as he retorted in an equally perturbed tone, "Andrea."

"I am, Daddy," I replied as I leaned down to kiss his cheek. I then sat down next to him before I continued, "But I am a bit confused. Do you know what that was all about between Clay and Gemma?"

"We have a big vote coming up."

I stared at the side of his face for a second to see if he would elaborate. When he didn't look like he was going to say anything else, I leaned in closer to him so I could ask just over a whisper, "And Gemma doesn't support the partnership with the Cartel?"

That finally got him to turn his eyes to my face. A face that I made had a look that was so innocent that an angel would blush.

"Maybe," he replied, suspicion plain in his voice. "You think you know something about that?"

"Yes, actually I do." I leaned in again so that I could lower my voice to add, "I don't think the vote will pass."

"You don't?"

"No, I don't. Happy is voting your way. Chibs won't trust them enough to vote yes. Despite what I usually have to say about Kozik, he will never be on board of more drugs coming into the city. And Jax... No way he's okay with pushing the same shit that almost killed Abel before he was born."

"And your brother?"

I shook my head then replied sadly, "I don't know where his head is at. I want to say he'll vote no, but I think their save yesterday will have a lot of sway for him."

"Shit... How did you get so smart, Short Stack?"

I hugged Dad replying, "No one expects a woman to have brains and beauty. I like being able to surprise people."