Chapter 12: A Change of Heart
Liv was stuck living with Happy, rolling her eyes as she remembered the conversation she had with her dad.
"Ti…daddy?" Calling him dad was still felt foreign to Liv but she would use it if it got her what she really wanted and that was to get from under the same roof as Happy—not after how he had been treating her, like she was a job and not a person who had feelings. She sat with him at the table with Natalie.
"What's up baby girl?" He smiled over at Liv.
"Is there any way I can stay with you?" She quietly asked, it was the first thing she had ever asked him for, so how could he turn her down?
Tig ran his hand over his face, "I'm sorry baby girl; I don't think it would be a good idea. If Marks were to look for you, my place would be the first place he would look. You're the safest at Happy's place."
Disappointment washed over her. How could she stay in his house after he treated her so poorly? "Alright." She couldn't wait to go back home and away from all the drama. At that moment what she would have given for a double shift at the diner on Kids Eat Free night. But she was stuck in Charming because of a gang war, something in which she had been pulled into because of a father she hadn't even known had existed until a month ago.
That conversation had been over a week ago and things were still just as tense with Happy. Most of the time, he would just pretend like she didn't exist; he continued his life like she wasn't in his house. Liv didn't like this Happy, he was moody and cold. When Happy did acknowledge her, it was always barked orders towards her: "Let's go", "you're staying there…" He no longer came to check on her when nightmares yanked her roughly from her sleep. He would get angry if she woke up because she couldn't sleep. There was no getting it right with him anymore, which made her decide that she would try to make herself as quiet and as small as possible when he was around.
"Hey short-stuff," a familiar male voice pulled her from her thoughts. She looked up from the table where she had surrounded herself with different account stuff for Redwoody—a responsibility she took on because she was good with numbers and it kept her busy; she needed to keep herself busy to not think about Happy. Then again it didn't seem to work that well since she had just been thinking about him.
"Hey, Jake," Liv said as she smiled up him. He was one of Lyla's guys; he was what Liv thought of when she envisioned the Greek God, Adonis. Everything from his floppy mess of blond hair, his deep hazel colored eyes and his body that was absolute perfection. It would have been a lie if Liv said she wasn't moderately attracted to the man. "How's my favorite porn star?" It was still a slight shock to be surrounded by people who had sex for a living. They made more money in a week than she did in months of working her ass off. She had picked the wrong career.
"I'm doing better now that I got to see your pretty face." Jake sat down next to her at the table. "You going to stick around for my scene today?" He asked as he wrapped his fingers around a strand of Liv's hair and played with it. She looked at the table feeling heat in her cheeks. Jake released her hair and touched her gently on the cheek.
"I don't know. I am at the mercy of the club and whoever is watching over me." The constant babysitter was getting old but she knew it really was for the best. There was no way she would survive if Marks and Cartwright got ahold of her again.
The members of SAMCRO walked out of Church, they had set up a meet with Mayans at Diosa. Liv's laughter caught Happy off guard, he hadn't heard her sweet giggle since the last time he had her in bed with him. He looked up quickly to see her sitting with one of Lyla's guys. He was touching her face and she seemed to be enjoying it. He wanted to go over and punch the guy in the face; he was sure that the guy was only interested in getting into Liv's pants. He shook his head as he continued watching the interaction between the two of them.
"You know, you want to." He smirked at her. "We are going to start filming the movie that was inspired by you calling me, Adonis."
"Hmm. Getting a little cocky now are you?" Liv teased.
"Only around you love." He smirked and he looked down between his legs; which made Liv laugh merrily until she looked up and saw Happy glaring at them.
"Liv?" Happy called to her, in his general no-nonsense tone that she had become so familiar to her.
Jake seeing the change in Liv's expression and over all attitude nodded towards Happy while asking, "What's his deal?"
Liv shook her head, she could feel his eye on her. It made her feel self-conscious. "I don't know. I'll be right back." She stood up and walked towards Happy. He had such a way of making her feel like a small child who had done something wrong. She walked over to him and looked up, was there jealousy in his eyes? Liv shrugged off as her imagination because she so desperately wanted him to look at her with anything other than annoyance.
"Montez is going to be here with you. He'll bring you back to my place." Was all he said, before he turned to walk away from Olivia. She wanted nothing more than to scream while stomping her feet on the floor, he was so frustrating.
"Whatever." She turned back to Jake, who obviously wanted her attention and she would give it to him. She would show Happy.
SOASOASOASOA
Happy was sitting out on the back step of his house as he heard Liv in the kitchen rummaging around. Thing had still been tense between them but most of it was his fault, thanks to Lyla he saw that.
"Sulking?" Lyla asked Happy as he poured himself another shot of Jack. He glared up at her. "What? I am just calling it like I see it. Of all of the Sons I thought I could be honest with you Hap." He took his shot and stared back at Lyla, thinking, was he really transparent? Lyla continued, "Ever since Liv told you guys what happened, I've seen the distance between you two."
"What is it to you, Lyla?" He bit back at her, she didn't need to be involved in his business. Nosy bitch, he thought to himself. "It's really none of your business."
"Really Happy? Have you not seen the way she looks at you? Well, used to look at you? I love Liv and I just want her to be happy, she deserves it," Lyla pleaded her case to him.
He looked over to see Liv and Jake talking, heads close together. "She seems pretty cozy with him," He raised his shot glass in the direction of Liv and Jake.
A grimace came across Lyla's pretty face, "You pushed her into his arms Happy. So stop being such an asshole and go after what you want before it's gone. She wouldn't have stuck around at your place if she didn't care for you, especially after the dick you have been to her. Think about it." Lyla said as she walked away.
"Stupid jar." He heard as he walked in the house to see Liv struggling with a jar of pickles. She had a frown on face and her brow was furrowed in frustration before trying again unsuccessfully to open the jar.
"Here, let me." Happy walked up and held out his hand so he could take the jar from her. Olivia looked up at him in shock, his voice was soft and not demanding of her. She handed it him and he quickly opened it and set it down on the counter. "There you go." He gave her a small smile. It was the most emotion she had seen from Happy in weeks.
"Thank you." She was still in a state of shock as he started to walk away from her. "Wait Happy…I was going to make myself a sandwich, would you like one before we leave?"
"Nah, I'm good." He said quietly as he walked into his bedroom. He had found the perfect gift for Liv's birthday. It wasn't something new but something he cherished deeply and he wanted Liv to have it. He needed to show her, he cared. Especially that day of all days, it was Liv's birthday. The club was throwing her a surprise party, it was Lyla's idea. After Happy grabbed Liv's gift he walked back into the kitchen where she was just finishing her sandwich. "You ready to head to Redwoody?"
"Yep. Give me a minute." Liv ran to her room and grabbed her bag out of the room. "I'm ready," She said as she slung her bag across her shoulder. The one thing that she wanted for her birthday was to have a good day and it was starting out that way…well other than the stupid pickle jar.
SOASOASOASOA
"Happy Birthday!" Tig embraced Liv as soon as she walked through the doorway of the warehouse.
Liv smiled at the fact that he even knew it was her birthday. "Thank you."
"Now how about you let your old man buy you a birthday drink." He walked with Olivia up to the bar.
Liv shook her head, "You know this bar is free." Smirking as she walked behind it to pull herself a beer. "How about you let your daughter pour you a beer." She handed a beer to her dad. "You want one?" She looked towards Happy.
"Not right now, I have business to take care of," he said as he turned to leave. Liv wondered if the niceness was only going to last her birthday or if Happy had finally worked through his issues and was coming back around.
"Suit yourself…don't blame me if I am a puddle of drunken mess when you get back." She raised her glass to her father who clinked his against hers. She was really starting to love the family she had found in Charming even if she missed her family in Charlottesville.
While Tig and Liv were finishing their beers Lyla walked up from behind Liv. "Happy birthday, Olivia!" She hugged Liv. "So for your birthday I have a surprise…you need to come with me back to the dressing rooms." Liv looked over at Tig, who had an all knowing smile on his face but just shrugged his shoulders as if to say he didn't know what was going on. Liv followed Lyla back to the dressing room, it was the same room where she was first able to shower and change her clothes after she was captive. "Okay close your eyes," she instructed as she sat Liv on a chair in the room that faced the doorway.
Olivia heard commotion but kept her eyes closed. She could tell someone was standing close to her, it had to have been Jake, she recognized his cologne. "Open your eyes." It was Jake. He was standing in front of her with a box with a lovely red bow on top. The room was filled with the stars of Redwoody, who were all smiling happily at Liv. "Open it." Jake shoved the box at Liv. She could sense he was more excited about her opening the gift that she was.
"You didn't have to." Liv looked around the room and all the people she would have easily dismissed because of their profession but she had gotten to know them and they were all for the most part lovely people.
"Just open, it you deserve it!" Lyla smiled broadly at her as she was setting up a curling iron and make up on one of the tables in the room.
Liv opened the box and she gasped, it was the dress she had been coveting in one of the magazines that had been lying around. She pulled out the strapless, sequined dress and hugged it to her body. "This is too much." She knew exactly how much the dress cost and it would have taken her two paychecks and tips to pay for it. She felt humbled to have people who were willing to buy her something so wonderful.
"It is not!" Lyla said, "Now go put it on, I have put a strapless bra in the bathroom for you. Then get back out here because I have another surprise for you." Lyla was determined to make this one of the best birthdays for Liv after losing Juice and what Marks and his men did. She deserved it.
Liv quickly got up and went into the bathroom where she stripped out of her clothes and put on the black dress that fit her like a glove. She walked out where everyone was still hanging about. "Can someone zip me up?"
Jake made his way to her side, he gathered Liv's hair to one side of her neck and zipped up her dress. Before he let go of her he kissed her lightly on the neck and whispered, "You look beautiful in this dress."
Liv looked over her shoulder at him and gave him a small smile. She instantly thought of Happy, she didn't know why he came to her mind at that moment but he did. He had changed somehow over the previous twenty four hours. Lyla beckoned her over to the table where she primped her. She did her makeup, giving her a smoky eyes which made her blue eyes the focus of her face. Lyla curled Liv's hair so it fell over her shoulders in waves. When Lyla had finished Liv looked at herself in the mirror, she didn't recognize herself at first. Over the past month her bruises and cuts had healed; her skin was back to its porcelain appearance again. She smiled, "Thank you, Lyla." She embraced her friend. She didn't know what she would have done without her, Lyla had been there for her since she walked through the door at Redwood.
"You're welcome, now come on, put these on." Lyla handed her a pair of black heels which Liv slipped on quickly. "I have one more surprise for you." Lyla took her by the hand and led the way back towards the bar.
Happy had just arrived, he had picked up Natalie at the airport and the second part of his gift for Liv. Natalie was actually surprised to see him, she was expecting Tig to pick her up. But Happy was standing by his Harley when she walked out of the airport. There was something about him that had changed since her last visit, he seemed more content. "Thanks for picking me up. I really think Liv with like the gift you got her." Natalie smiled at Happy, knowing her friend and how much she liked gifts with meaning behind them more than expensive store bought items.
Happy nodded, as he made his way to the bar. He knew the plan was to have Lyla get Olivia out of the way so they could surprise her with the party. He looked around the room while lounging against the bar; Liv really had touched a lot of lives in her short time in Charming. It was going to be hard to let her go back to her home, if that was what she chose to do once Marks and his company are put out of commission. Lyla walked out and Liv followed. Happy's breath hitched when he saw her. She looked so different. Her normal attired was jeans and a t-shirt so seeing her in a dress that hugged her curves was something new to him. He thought she was beautiful either way but she had just taken his breath away.
Liv was shocked when she walked out and found that the warehouse, was full of people. She could feel warmth in her cheeks. Her eyes searched the room and were met by Happy's eyes, he gave her a smile and raised his glass to her. Liv smiled back and nodded at him.
"Happy Birthday, Livi!" Natalie ran up to her and embraced her tightly.
"Oh my god, Nat! What are you doing here? You said you had to work." Liv stepped back from Natalie and looked at her. She had lied to her. "You were totally planning on coming weren't you?" She pushed her.
Natalie shrugged, "Yes, of course! I couldn't miss your birthday, it would have been the first one in 22 years. Plus now I can say murderous gangs couldn't stop me." She teased. It was so like Natalie to make light of heavy situations. "Um..." Natalie was staring at a person behind Liv.
Before Liv could turn around and see who was standing behind her, a hand slip around her waist. "Oh hey." She looked up at Jake who was smiling down at her. "Natalie this is Jake. Jake, this is my best friend in all the world, Natalie." She introduced them Jake held his hand out to Natalie who blushed when the shook hands. Liv smiled at her, she thought he was hot.
"Do you ladies want anything to drink?" He asked.
"Sure surprise me." Liv was feeling adventurous, "and get her whatever you get me." She pushed Natalie to a table. She was still staring at Jake. "Do you need a napkin?" She asked Nat.
"He is gorgeous!" Was all Natalie said.
He was good looking but he wasn't boyfriend material, he had sex with people for a living, Liv couldn't deal with that. "He is also a porn star Nat."
That pulled Natalie back to the real world but not before she said, "Now I know what I am going to watch from now on." She smirked deviously. "Oh here open your gift." Natalie pushed a rectangle box across the table to Liv.
Liv stared at the box, it was a very typical Natalie present. It was wrapped in shiny silver paper with a big red bow that was wrapped neatly around the box. She slowly unwrapped the gift taking care not to rip the paper which she knew killed Natalie who was bouncing in the chair next to her, unable to contain her excitement. She had always loved Natalie's gifts, they were always something homemade and from the heart. Upon opening the box Liv found a scrapbook. She looked up at Natalie who was grinning from ear to ear. She opened the first page and found in Natalie's handwriting:
"Olivia Grace- I feel completely blessed to call you my best friend. I wouldn't want to have anyone else by my side throughout all our years of friendship. I love you forever! Here's to having many more years of friendship. Love, Natalie Elsie."
Liv felt close to tears as she turned the pages of the book. Thankfully Jake returned to hand the girls their drinks, Cosmos. He sat with them as Liv and Natalie reminisced over the events that lead to the pictures. Natalie tensed up as Liv turned to one of the last pages in the book. Liv let out a quiet sob as she looked down at the face staring back at her. Juice. She touched the photo, running her fingers over his lips. The harsh reality that he was gone came rushing back at her and slapped Liv in the face. How could he be gone? She glanced over at the next page and it was a photo of her and Juice together, he was kissing her on the cheek and she was smiling broadly at the camera. Tears started to fall onto the book. "Excuse me." Liv jumped up from the table and ran towards the bathroom. Seeing the photo of her and Juice together made her realize how much she had lost. That the girl in that photo is not the same person who was looking at it. Sure they had the same faces but they were far from the same person. There was a soft knock on the door. "I'll be out in a second," she called out to the knocker. She wiped the tears from her face; she had never been more appreciative of waterproof mascara in her whole life. After making sure she looked presentable, she opened the door and saw Happy leaning against the wall.
"You okay?" He inquired, wiping a stray tear from Liv's face.
"I'm fine. Natalie's gift just got to me." She gave him a weak smile. What was his deal? Why was he all of a sudden being so nice? "The bathroom is all yours." Liv stepped aside and started back towards her party.
Happy took hold of Liv's hand and pulled her back towards him, "I don't need to use the bathroom. I came to give you this," Happy held out a small gold box to Olivia. She took and opened it. It was a necklace with a small charm on it. Liv took the delicate silver necklace out of the box and looked at the charm, it was Saint Christopher. "It was my mom's. She used to say Saint Christopher was the protector and that he had always kept her safe. I want you to have it now."
Liv was speechless. How could he give her something so priceless and irreplaceable? One thing Liv knew about Happy is that he loved his mother more than any other person in the world and now she was gone. "Happy…I can't accept this. I don't deserve such a precious gift." She glanced up at him.
Happy shook his head. "Please take it. You are the only person who deserves it." He looked sad.
Liv bit her lower lips as she nodded to Happy. "Thank you Happy. Will you put it on for me?" She handed him the necklace as she turned so her back was facing him, lifting her hair out of the way. Happy placed it around her neck and latched it. His hands lingered on her bare neck. Instant butterflies. Liv looked down at the necklace then turned back to Happy. "You're gift really means a lot to me."
"You're welcome. Liv, I've been an ass…" Happy started. He was going to apologizes for being so insecure and jealous but Liv never let him finish.
"Please, let's not do this tonight. Can we just pretend for one night that nothing happened?" She wrapped her arms around him and looked up at him. He pulled her closer to him and kissed her. Happy felt Liv relax in his arms, for that one moment they both forgot.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter…what do you think will happen between Liv and Happy now?! Got to love the tension between them. Thank you all for your continued support! I also want to thank my Beta, AgentZyiana