Whatever was happening between Dad and JC, it didn't last long. Dad released JC from his embrace and swiped his hands over his cheeks and eyes quickly. I was standing outside of the booth now, but I remained silent as I watched them. Dad placed a hand on JC's lower back to push him towards where I was now standing.

I closed the space between us and wrapped my arms around JC's. I instantly nuzzled my face against his cut and almost tearfully said, "I told you not to come until I had their decision. I don't want you to get hurt."

"I know, but we're supposed to be a team. That means I'm here for you, good, bad or ugly," JC replied as he rubbed soft circles on my back. "I take it that you've already talked to the Club?"

"She did," Dad answered in his usual low. Raspy voice. There was no hint of any tears in his tone, so I hugged JC a little more tightly when I heard, "I need to have a chat with both of you."

JC kept me tucked against his chest answering, "Hap… look man…we didn't mean for you to find out this way…"

"SIT!" Dad commanded without acknowledging JC's pseudo-apology.

He opened his mouth to argue with Dad again, so I tired to stop him by detaching myself and giving him a pleading look. Thankfully it worked because he took me by the hand and walked me over to the booth where Dad was waiting for us.

We slid into the booth, JC then me, opposite to where Dad was seated. JC automatically wrapped a protective arm around my shoulders and helped me to tuck into his side. That was fine with me because cuddling into his side gave me an excuse not to look my dad in the eye. I know it was the coward's way out, but I had used up all of my courage in the club's chapel just a few minutes ago.

"So? You know what she was asking of the club today, right?" Dad asked in a fairly calm tone.

JC nodded answering, "She told me about it a while ago."

"Oh really?"

"Yeah. It was… kind of part of our reconciliation," JC clarified as I started to stroke his chest through his cut.

Dad let out a noise that sounded anything but happy before he asked, "And you okayed the ultimatum she gave the club?"

"Ultimatum?" I hugged JC's torso more tightly and tried to burrow further into his side so that I could hide from both of them. But JC wouldn't allow it I guess he could tell that the news wasn't good by the look on my dad's face along with my reaction. He carefully extracted me from his side asking, "Mia? What…? What is your dad talking about? I don't remember there being an ultimatum involved."

"You really don't know?" Dad commented, sounding genuinely surprised.

"No. Mia? What is he talking about?" He lifted my chin so that he only way that I could avoid eye contact was to close my eyes. "No lies, Mia. We promised each other nothing but the truth. What ultimatum did you give the club?"

I couldn't bare to look into his oh so earnest face, so I closed my eyes and answered, "I told you I could do this without you."

He shifted his hold of my face so that it was cradled between both of his hands. He brushed his thumbs band and forth over the apples of my cheeks until I opened my eyes. "I know, but we talked about this. Scottsdale will be a fresh start… even if I'm not there."

Tears started to spill down my cheeks as I squeezed his hands tightly. "No… I can't…" I moved his left hand to my stomach desperately adding, "I can't do THIS without you."

"Mia… Happy…" He turned to look at my dad. "Hap? What did she say to the club?"

Dad just shrugged then answered, "Her story to tell." He turned and when he saw the look of betrayal on my face, he said, "You're a big girl, Maria. If you don't have the balls to tell you partner, then you shouldn't have brought it to the club."

I tried to sway him with the tears that were now dripping off my chin, but Dad wouldn't budge. He just stared at me with he came blank expression he had given many of the members of his club. It was his poker face, the expression he wore when he didn't want anyone to know what he was feeling or thinking. For the first time in all the years I knew him, it finally occurred to me that this look on his face meant that whatever he was feeling was so deep that heh had to work extra hard not to show any emotions at all.

"Shit," I whispered to myself. This really wasn't how I want this to happen. JC was never meant to find out this tidbit of information. As far as anyone was supposed to know, it was just a piece of emotional blackmail to try to sway the club to vote our way. There was no way for any of them to verify if I had an appointment or not. JC was never supposed to find out what I had planned if the club voted against us.

I pulled out another tissue to blow my nose and dry my cheeks. I then turned to JC and took his hands in both of mine. "Honest truth? I told you that I have no idea what to do with a baby. God, if my face hadn't been hacked up, I would have fucked it up already smoking like a chimney and drinking like a fish. But I didn't want to do anything to interfere with my antibiotics. Fuck… those alone could have screwed this kid up…"

"I know all of your insecurities, Mia. I've told you that's how most first-time parents feel. Jax was like that with Abel. Hell, ask Happy, I'm sure he had some of the same thoughts when he found out about you."

JC paused there to look at Dad and plead for him to back up his claim.

Dad shrugged then said, "I'm still convinced I might screw Mia up."

That made me sputter out a laugh. "Pretty sure Liz did all the damage already, Dad. You can't do anything to make me more neurotic than I already am."

Dad reached across the table and just held my hand. He didn't say anything at all. He just made direct eye contact with me and motioned to JC with his chin. JC only had eyes for me, so he missed Dad's silent direction. He was telling me that JC deserved the truth. Even though it might break his heart, like it did my dad's, it would be a dick move for me not to tell JC.

"So, the ultimatum… I finished by asking them to make sure to tell me their decision before my appointment in two days…"

"Appointment?" JC cut in frantically. "What appointment? With who?"

I brought his left hand up from my stomach to my lips. It did nothing to calm the fear and concern I saw in his eyes. Fuck, how could I do this? How could I tell him that I would kill off the last remnants of him if the club voted for him to meet their ultimate punishment?

Just fucking tell him, you stupid asshole.

I hugged his hand against my breast and closed my eyes as I finally answered, "I made an appointment with Planned Parenthood."

JC snatched his hand back as soon as the words passed over my lips. He slid further into the booth so fast that he actually hit the wall. The look of betrayal, shock and pain was so overwhelming that I had to move out of the booth to… Shit… I didn't even know. For a second, I thought I was going to throw up, but that passed as soon as I was standing up. Instead, I just found it hard to breathe and found myself doubled over with a hand on one of the stools by the counter.

I felt a hand touch my back, but I couldn't react to it. All of my focus was on trying to even out my breathing so that I wouldn't pass out.

"Baby Girl, come here," Dad quietly pleaded as he placed both of his hands on my waist to try to pull me towards him. "Nena, come here. Let me help you."

I slowly turned towards him, but I stumbled a bit because I still wasn't able to take in a proper breath. Dad firmly gripped my cheeks and made painfully direct eye contact. "Deep breath in… Good… now slowly out. Deep breath in… hold… now slowly out…" He held my face and my gaze until I started doing that breathing exercise on my own and without instruction. "Good. You're going to be okay, Baby Girl. Just keep breathing."

"I'll try, Daddy. I'll try."

"Juice," he called out over his shoulder. "Come here, Son."

I stared at Dad in disbelief and all he could do was smile. If I ever wondered how Dad felt about his situation, there was my answer. JC had graduated form being a Brother to being a Son in my Dad's eyes. And now I was sure that Dad wanted to make sure that we would make that an official title.

When I opened my eyes again, JC was standing beside my dad. I'm sure Dad had some sage advice to pass on to the father of my baby, but he was interrupted by Bobby calling out, "I'm sorry to break up the family moment, but…" He made sure he had made eye contact with me before he added, "We've come to a decision, Beautiful."

Dad turned to face him and replied, "Thanks. We'll be right up."

Bobby just nodded then turned to head back up the stairs. I took in a deep breath then and forced myself to find some confidence before I said, "I guess I should head up there."

JC caught my left arm as Dad caught my right when I tried to walk pat them. I looked between them while trying not to cry, but it was JC who said, "You aren't doing this alone."

XXXXXXXX

Once we made it up to the SAMCRO chapel, Dad found a spot to my right and about a step or two behind me. JC held onto my left hand like they were welded together. I stumbled a couple of times up the stairs because the steps he took were so much larger than my own. He adjusted after the second time, but his attention seemed to be solely focused on getting up to the chapel to hear the Sons' verdict.

Truth be told, part of my stumbling might have been because I unconsciously was trying to delay the in evitable. I don't know why but I had a sinking feeling that my words had no effect on the majority of the members of the Sons of Anarchy, Redwood Chapter. And for some reason it was freaking me out more now that JC was standing by my side. I felt like I was a shepherd who had just led a lamb to the slaughter.

Before anyone could say anything, JC addressed the room saying, "I hope it's okay with you that I'm here. I never meant for Mia to do this on her own. We're a team and we were supposed to bring this to you together. Since she changed those plans, I'm hoping you'll be fine with me hearing your verdict with her… Brothers."

There were a few raised eyebrows as Jax asked, "And you know everything she said to us…? Including the potential repercussions?"

I tried to pull away to tell all of them that he didn't. That extreme reaction was ALL on me, but I didn't get chance to tell them that. Before I had a chance to even flinch, JC practically crushed my knuckles in his hands, so no one was aware I had anything to say to Jax's question.

"Of course, I do. Like I said, we're a team and we were supposed to do this together." He then turned to kiss my cheek. It was kind of mechanical but by the looks on the men's faces around the table it didn't look like any of them thought it was anything but genuine. Shit. Who knew that JC could be that good of an actor?

"Alright," Jac replied sounding slightly impressed. "We've reached a verdict. And Mia? I'm sorry to say, we can't accept your terms…"

XXXXXXXXXX

Juice barely had a chance to release Mia's hand to try to catch her when she fainted. Thankfully, Happy was right behind her and was ready to catch her with open arms. Once Happy had her upper body braced against his chest, Juice rushed over to her side to try to check her vitals.

"Mia? Mia?" Juiced called out frantically as he held her face in one of his hands.

Happy slowly went to his knees as he eased Mia down to the floor. Everyone at the table had jumped to their feet when they saw Mia's eyes roll into the back of her head before she fell into her father's arms. Once Happy had her head and shoulders resting on his thighs while he was kneeling on the ground, Chibs appeared at his side asking, "Maybe we should take the Sweet Lass somewhere more comfortable than the floor?"

"And what's your suggestion, Brother?" Happy asked without showing any signs of wanting to relinquish his unconscious daughter to anyone else.

Chibs looked around the room then sighed. There really wasn't anywhere else in this room that would work.

"Jesus Christ…" Jax sighed out. "Put her on the damn table. Rat… Go get her some juice… Orange or apple… Or Gatorade."

Rat jumped up from his chair to comply with his President's orders while Juice move to Mia's feet to help Happy carry her to the table.

"Watch the skirt," Happy barked out unnecessarily. "She'll be pissed if you give any of these guys a show."

"I've got it, Hap. No one will see anything they aren't supposed to."

As they laid her down on the wooden table top, they all heard a dull thud. Happy and Juice exchanged concerned looks before they stepped back to let their Brothers investigate the noise. Happy really wanted to be the one to check what had caused it, but he knew that he had to back off.

Juice was too stunned to react at all. He only moved back when Chibs gripped him by the shoulders and quietly said to him, "We just want to help her, but you need to give us room."

It was Bobby who patted Mia down and eventually found the pocket-sized firearm concealed by the fullness of her skirt. When he pulled it out of her pocket, he briefly showed it to the room before he placed it down on the table by her feet, close to Jax's spot at the table.

Jax then held the firearm up and turned to Juice to ask, "Was this another part of your plan?"