Okay, this is the end of part one. I'm going to be updating under this same Title but chapter 34 will be a type of "intermission" there will be some glimpses of life during the 14 months that the guys are inside and then chapter 35 will be the beginning of part two that will pick up when the guys get out. I hope you all enjoy and continue reading!

Chapter 33

We celebrated with our family and friends for a couple hours before going home. The party was great. Jax and Tara danced, even though he hates dancing and Mom and Clay actually seemed to be having a good time. Tig and Kozik took turns dancing with Mariah while Happy kept me all to himself. I was shocked when he actually danced with me. My cheeks were sore from smiling so much. When we got "home", I made him sit on the couch while I went to get the photos I'd made for him. I had put them in a black, leather-bound album with my new initials on the bottom right corner of the cover.

"I wanted to make you something special." I said, handing him the album as I took a seat beside him on the couch. He glanced over at me before slowly opening the album. He ran his fingers over the first picture. It was a candid that I didn't even know Tara had taken before I started going through the shots on the computer. We had taken a break and I had put on Happy's hooded sweatshirt so I wasn't just lounging around in my underwear. In the picture, I was turned sideways and looking into the mirror with my hand on my stomach. It was my favorite picture by far.

"Lexie." He said softly, putting his hand on top of mine. I smiled and urged him to keep looking. I noticed that he took more time looking at the lighthearted pictures and candids than the sexy, posed shots. "You're perfect, Alexis."

"Hardly but I'm glad you like it." I said, kissing his cheek. He closed the album and put it on the coffee table. I noticed his shoulders drop before he sat back up. "What's wrong, baby?"

"I'm leaving my wife and daughter in a week." He said with a sigh. I had tried not to think about it for the past few days but of course it was always in the back of my mind. "Neither one of you deserve that shit."

"Happy, we're going to be here for you. When she's old enough we'll come and visit you and I'll write and call and send pictures. She won't not know you, Happy. I promise you. She'll know you as the type of man I know you to be. We'll get through this together." I said, running my hand over his back. He pulled me onto his lap and caught my lips with his.

"Since when are you the strong one?" He asked. I laughed and gave him a quick kiss.

"I'm a tough ass old lady, Hap." I gave him a wink and smiled as he laughed. "Now are we going to keep being doom and gloom or are you going to take your new wife to bed?"

Happy didn't answer before wrapping an arm beneath my legs and an arm around my back. I held on, knowing he was about to stand up and carry me down the hallway. Neither of us brought up our conversation on the couch again that night. We just took our time and celebrated.

The days following our wedding seemed to fly by. The club was busy tying up loose ends before they went inside and I had a feeling they were planning something, even though neither Happy or Jax would admit to it. Any outsider could see the changes in everyone's demeanor as their last day on the outside drew closer. I was crying at any mention of their departure, Happy was irritable with everyone but me and Mom was busying herself with trying to help everyone, even when they didn't ask for or need her help. Eventually, the day that we had been dreading came.

"Come on, Lexie. There's breakfast out there." Happy said, running his hand over my hip. Everyone had stayed at the clubhouse the night before. Clay said it would be easier for goodbyes. I didn't buy that for an instance. It was tactical.

"Okay." I muttered. In my head I was protesting like a child. I wanted to tell him that I wasn't hungry, that I didn't want to get out of bed. I was depressed. Instead of saying all of that though, I swallowed my own feelings down and got out of bed for him. Letting him know just how much I was hurting wouldn't help anyone. After breakfast, the guys went into the chapel for a few minutes. I didn't think anything of it. It was their last time around the table as a club for a while. It wasn't until they came out wearing or carrying Kevlar vests that I realized I had been right. Something was going down. Something big and obviously dangerous. I grabbed Happy by the arm and narrowed my eyes at him.

"No. Don't you dare walk out of those doors. You've never felt the need to wear a vest before. Don't you walk into something that could take you from us. Happy, don't you dare." I said, angry tears springing from my eyes.

"Alexis, calm down. You're not supposed to get upset." He said. I shoved him away and shook my head. "Baby, just trust me, okay?"

"You knew something was happening. You knew and didn't tell me how bad it was, Happy." I said, stepping back as he reached for me. He frowned and I watched his adam's apple move up and down as he swallowed his own feelings down.

"Let's go!" Clay announced loudly. Everyone started filing out of the clubhouse and onto the parking lot. I followed them outside, despite how angry I was. Tara and Jax were talking over by her car. She didn't seem upset and when Jax handed her a vest, I felt my blood start to boil. Did everyone know what was going on besides me. She met my gaze and frowned as I shook my head. I felt so betrayed.

"Lowman." I snapped just as Happy sat on his bike. He looked up as I stormed over to him. "You get your ass back here in one piece and don't add a single day to your time."

"Yes ma'am." He said, reaching into the inside pocket of his kutte. He handed me a letter and searched my eyes. "I love you, Alexis. Don't read that until after they pick us up, alright?"

"Fine." I snapped before taking a deep, shaky breath. I leaned down and kissed him, unsure if I was going to get another chance that day. "I love you, Happy."

I stepped back alongside my mother and watched as the club rolled out, followed by Tara. Mom put her arm around me as I started crying again. I felt light headed and knew Happy was right. I wasn't supposed to be getting upset but damn if I couldn't help it. I looked over at Mom and thought about asking her if she had known what was going to happen. I then thought better of it. I needed to have at least one person left on the outside.

"I don't feel great. I'm going to go lay down." I said, rubbing my stomach that was starting to bother me. Mom walked me inside and got me settled in on the bed Happy and I had shared. Instead of leaving to oversee the clean up from breakfast like I thought she would, she pulled up the desk chair and sat beside me.

"You'll be okay, sweetheart." Mom said feeling my forehead with the back of her hand like she had done when I was a little girl. "Close your eyes, Lexie. I'll wake you up in time to say goodbye."

"Okay." I said, rolling over onto my side. I pulled Happy's pillow to my chest, hoping the smell of his cologne and body washed calmed me down. I couldn't sleep. The first time I started to doze off, I hear gunfire and sat straight up. Mom was still by my side, telling me everything was okay. When I tried to sleep again, I smelled the all too familiar, metallic scent of blood. Again, Mom was still sitting in the chair beside me.

"Do you want some tea?" She asked, knowing there was no going back to sleep for me. I nodded and rolled over onto my back. I had stared at that same ceiling the night before, barely able to fall asleep then. I wondered when the next time Happy and I would share a bed would be. I was worried that whatever crazy plan they were executing would add to their time. Mom came back with Tea but I couldn't stomach it. I just held it in my hands, letting it warm my ice cold fingers. I heard motorcycles in the distance and climbed out of the bed. I didn't feel much better but I needed to see Happy.

"Hey baby." He said, pulling me into his arms. I took a deep breath, taking in the cologne and leather smell. He led me inside with everyone else. "I never wanted to lie to you, Lexie. I just needed you safe. The less you knew the better."

"I don't want to talk about it, Hap. I love you." I said, tucking myself into his arms. He held me close and rested his chin on top of my head. "Please tell me you'll be careful, Happy. Tell me that you'll come back to us."

"I promise, Alexis. You two are the ones that are going to keep me sane in there, baby." He whispered. Chibs stood up from the bar and both of us looked over. I saw the police cars rolling on the lot and felt my heart all but shatter. "I love you, Alexis. It'll be okay."

Agent Stahl and her muscle made everyone that wasn't getting hauled in lie flat on the ground. When I refused, she walked up to me with a cocky smile. Happy jerked back from the officer that was cuffing him.

"Leave her alone." He barked.

"How does it feel, Alexis? Your brother is a rat?" I blinked, looking from her to Jax. This was it, the deal that they'd been talking about. I wasn't supposed to know. I scowled and looked back at Stahl. "Thanks to your big brother turning on the Irish, your baby daddy will be out before your kid is out of diapers."

"You son of a bitch." Clay yelled, lunging at Jax. Jax pulled off the act of a betrayed man pretty well. He avoided looking at the club and snapped at Stahl as she handed a folder over to Lohen. I didn't have to act much. I was still crying from having to say goodbye. Happy and I made eye contact one more time before he entered the transport van.

It wasn't until later that night when I was lying in our bed alone that I remembered the letter he had given me.

Alexis,

I wanted to tell you everything before we left. I'm sorry. The deal was bigger than we told you. I'll be out in fourteen months, as long as everything goes alright today. I know it's not the same as being there when our daughter is born but it's something. I love you, Alexis Teller Lowman. I love our daughter as well. Let her know that. One more thing, I like the name Addison. I heard you muttering it in your sleep a couple nights ago when she was kicking.

-Happy.