Disclaimer. I do not own Sons of Anarchy or any of the characters. Just the unfamiliar ones.
April 16, 2012
"Mama where we going?" Three year old Olivia Lowman asked as she peered up into the rearview mirror to meet her mothers gaze.
"I'm taking you to see abuela grandmother for the week baby girl" Mia answered with a chuckle when Livy cheered in excitement. She loved visit Julia, especially if she had sleepovers. She was still clueless as to what went on around her but she knew her mother and grandmother both loved and protected her to no ends.
Often Mia would catch Livy looking at her friends from daycare as they got picked up from their father or both parents and it sent an arrow through her heart. Knowing full well that her last interaction with Livy's father didn't go down as well and figuring that after all this time he hadn't sought her out told her everything she needed to know. He didn't want to be apart of their family and it broke her heart all the more.
Well, there was a male figure in their life but Mia was quite clear she didn't want Livy to call anything but his name. Austin was good with that but he had a darker side to him that Mia never wanted Livy to see.
Pulling into Julia's driveway she got out and helped Livy out who ran full speed for the front door as she got the few bags she had packed Livy.
"Hola mija" Julia rasped softly after kissing her granddaughter all up.
"Hey Jules I'm sorry to spring this on you. Your okay to watch her right?" Mia asked nervously.
"I am mija and what have I told you about calling me by my name. You birthed out my only granddaughter and not to mention you hold my sons heart still" Julia clearly stated much like all the other times she has. Mia still didn't feel comfortable calling Julia ma after she and Happy split long ago and telling the news that she was in a relationship with another man but she would often find herself saying it just to keep her happy and to stop with the explanation.
"Great. Thanks then ma. I don't know how long I'll be gone for but I'm hoping it won't be that long" Mia confessed.
"Are you short on time or can I get something down your throat before you have to leave?"
Mia glanced at the clock on the wall and smiled softly. "I would kill for a chocolate chip cookie that I can smell." Mia always loved Julia's baking and she was an even greater cook.
"Good then why don't you take Livy's things to the room and I'll have a few things dished out for you."
After putting everything in Livy's room, Livy couldn't help but glance at the photos on the tall boy that she always caught herself looking at far too long.
A few photos of herself with Happy, Happy alone and Happy with Julia and Julia with Happy. She spotted the few baby photos of Happy alone and the ones she had given Julia of Livy.
"Mija, your snacks are ready. What's taking you so long?" Julia yelled from the bottom of the stairs.
"Shit" she huffed out and made her way out of the room. "Sorry. I was just checking to see I had everything Livy needed. This looks divine ma I hope you didn't go through all this trouble for me."
"You know I would Mia. Sit down in here or eat outside?"
At hearing a loud bark rip through the air Mia grinned. "Outside. I wanna see my main man" Mia stated simply. She helped Julia carry everything outside and placed them on the picnic table under the tree before she walked up to her excited dog where Livy sat playing with him. "Hello my boy… How've you been…" Mia asked as she kneeled down. Licking Mia's face, she couldn't help the bright smile that graced her. "Mm I bet buster."
"Mama" Livy whined when Busta started licking her face again.
"Busta, stop" she ordered. The fierce but loving pit bull stopped immediately "sit" again he did as he was told and lowered his head over his stretched out legs. "Good boy" she cheered and petted his head before heading over to the hose and washing her hands.
"What's gonna happen when you move mija?"
"Honestly ma? I have no idea. All I want is to get away from the bullshit that I created in the first place."
Julia hmphed at that comment to which Mia ignored. "It wouldn't have to happen that way if you just told my son baby" Julia confessed causing Mia to sigh deeply.
"Ma, I've already been over this-"
"Yeah yeah. Your with another man now but that doesn't stop me from bringing up my son. He still hasn't had the balls to read those letters but he would protect you no matter what."
"That's a risk I'm not willing to take Julia. He has obviously given up on us and so have I. Hell, it's been three years since I last saw him and he hasn't given a shit. Excuse my language but I don't think he has any right to knowing me and my daughter."
Julia sighed sadly. Tears welled in her eyes actually and she wasn't afraid to show her hurt causing Mia to feel like shit.
"I'm sorry Mia. You he's my son still and I love you like a daughter. I'm only thinking of yours and Olivia's safety here that's all."
"I'm fine Julia. Honestly, there's no need to hide from him anymore he hasn't been around since I filed the restraining order against him" Mia confessed but it still worried Julia.
"Eat up honey. You've got a long trip ahead of you. Do you want me to pack a few snacks?"
"No thanks ma. I'll be fine."
-o0o-
Mia made sure Julia had everything she needed to make sure she would get on the plane with her granddaughter in a few days and made her way to the airport wanting to get home in less than two days. She managed the two hour flight with no sweat.
It was almost 7pm by the time she made it back to her parents home and she smiled to herself. Parking up in their driveway, she couldn't wait to surprise them. Most of the club seemed to be inside which made her excited all the more. Wasting no time in closing the distance between herself and the front door, she pulled the door open and stepped over the threshold.
Shrugging out of her jacket and inhaled the home cooked meal her mother seemed to be cooking up. Peaking into the kitchen, her smile grew when she spotted the few old lady's helping her mother.
"Surprise" she cheered catching everyone off guard as they jumped in shock.
"Mia?" Her mother Lucy cheered wasting no time crossing her openly large kitchen. "Oh god baby girl. What a lovely surprise. Where's my granddaughter" Lucy beamed. She held Mia with strong arms as a bright smile plastered her face. "And brings you all the way to Tacoma?"
"Livy's spending time with hr other grandmother and I thought I'd just drop by. Surprise everyone, hey Mel" Mia said as she hugged Bowie's old lady.
"That's nice. Is she coming here though?"
"Yeah. In a few days."
"Great. I need some nana loving."
Passing every other old lady in the kitchen she was surprised the guys hadn't heard all their screaming and furrowed her brow. "Where are the guys?" She asked with a knowing grin.
"Outside hitting up the grill, and the kids are swimming before dinner time, why don't you take that case of beer for them? I was supposed to refill the fridge outside."
"Okay just as long as you don't need my help."
"Everything's covered baby girl, your father would be happy to see you" Lucy explained.
With a few more words to her mothers friends, she headed through the French doors in the dining area and calculated where everyone was. Placing the case of beer she on the ground, she leaned against the doorway and smiled. Her father was cooking up a storm with her brother Skip with her best friend at his side. Bowie was with his daughters in the pool with Donut. Lorca was chilling under the in shade sitting on a lawn chair with Jessie who Mia remembered was a prospect the last time she came up which meant he made it through his prospecting years. As her eyes continued to skim her parents backyard, she caught a glimpse of her other brother Chad with Chip and Dom and a last figure she couldn't quite make out before she got the fright of her life.
She felt the air leave her throat, her feet pick up off the ground and her surroundings being spun around before she felt arms putting her down.
"Jesus Christ Kozic you sure know how to scare a girl."
Kozic grinned from ear to ear when he pulled Mia in for a proper hug. "Sorry Mia girl but I just couldn't resist. Why are you waiting in here for? The parties outside" Kozic stated draping an arm over her shoulder.
"Shit koz I wouldn't do that if I were you" Mel chuckled knowingly causing Kozic to remove his arm from her as Mia furrowed her brows.
"What's that supposed to mean?" She snapped slightly.
"Nothing" Mel shrugged, ignoring the comment all together if this was how she was gonna react. "Actually" she began, changing her mind at the last second. "You should probably wanna heads up first. Haps here and this idiot is digging himself a hole" she stated simply causing Mia to swiftly recheck the backyard. Her eyes finally crossed those of her ex and she gasped in shock.
"Too late to run now Mia girl. Lorca and your dad have seen you already" Kozic whispered as he held Mia from walking back inside. "I've got the beers. Go say hi" he pushed her out the door and grinned.
"Jesus baby girl what the hell are you doing here?" Her father asked in the same shocked expression as her mother had.
"This is home right?" Mia stated.
"It is baby girl" kissing her crown, he held a while longer. After a moment, he felt Mia chuckling in his arms. "What's so funny?"
"Dad the sausages are burning."
"Shit" he spat under his breath causing Mia and Hannah to abruptly laugh.
"Hey Hans, Skip" Mia greeted hugging both her brother and best friend.
"Look at you baby girl. Where has the fucking time gone?" Skip asked with a smirk.
"Shut up asshole. I'm gonna go say hi to everyone else" Mia stated. Kissing both once again, she made her rounds.
Happy sat in shock the second he heard that distinct laugh freezing up when he heard her soft voice coming closer. Suddenly the weight of the envelope she had given him felt heavy in his kutte.
He sat in silence as she greeted his brothers around him before she stopped short. "Hap" she stated sharply then turned swiftly on her heel heading in the opposite direction with Chad draping an arm over her shoulder.
"Cold shoulder from your own old lady. Man that's gotta hurt" Lorca stated taking a sip of his beer. The cold hard glare from his brother told him he just put his foot in it but he couldn't help the chuckle that ripped out from his throat.
"Fuck up asshole" Happy growled out before he stood, taking his leave and ignoring everyone who was stopping him.
Draping a leg over his dyna, he started it up and ripped out of the driveway in anger. He couldn't stand to be in the same room as she and he was gonna do anything he could to steer clear of her.
The whole club was happy to see Mia back and asked her why she was visiting and what she was doing, the list of questions was endless but she answered all of them. Her parents and brothers were extremely happy to see her.
"Why didn't you bring Livy with you?" Chad asked out of the blue.
"Whose Livy? You swinging the other way now baby girl? I remember you experiencing the same sex back in high school" Donut asked with a raised brow.
"No. Livy, Olivia is my daughter" she confessed causing half the knives and forks to drop from everyone's hands along with the food or water they in took.
"Olivia? Daughter?" Bowie asked in confusion. "What the hell? How come we didn't know about her? How old is she?"
"I didn't tell anyone but my parents and brothers. Reason being was because I know what you'd all think of me and she's three. Four in a few months actually."
"Well someone's been a secret queen. I thought we were family" Lorca asked honestly hurt by her confession.
"I'm sorry guys. You can all meet her when she comes up with her other grandmother. We're gonna be staying at my old house for a bit seeing as Hap and I never sold it" Mia stated casually. Silence continued to fill the outdoor area causing Mia to bite on her bottom lip. "What?" She asked curiously. Looking around the table she could see everyone hiding her from something.
"Mia, Happy's gonna be staying there for a few weeks. The club is in it and he needs to be here. There's a spare room here for you though" Lucy stated.
"Great" she huffed out dropping her fork. "I need to go check up on my kid. I'll be back" Mia whispered as she excused herself from the table.
Once her phone was in hand she wasted no time placing the phone call. Anxiously waiting for Julia to answer she started tapping her thigh which she did out of habit when she was in a state like this.
"Mija? What's wrong?"
"I can't have Livy here. Not until I tell Hap at least."
"Is he in Tacoma?" Julia asked.
The honesty in the elder woman's voice told Mia she had no idea where her son was. "He is Jules. Please just don't come up. I'll call when I've told him."
Silence filled her ears and for a moment she thought Julia had hung up on her but then knew she would be thinking hard about how to answer.
"Fine. But I give you a week and that's it Mia or I'm telling my son that he has a daughter and that you have someone in your life" Julia declared before she called out for Livy to speak with her mother.
Mia held the phone to her ear a little longer with a deep sigh. This wasn't working out how she wanted it to. Mia spent the next half hour talking with her daughter asking how her day was and everything like that before she said her goodbyes to both of the Lowman woman in her life.