Chibs sat in his dormroom in the clubhouse a steaming hot cup of coffee sitting on the table by his bedside. He had hoped that the caffeine filled drink would ease his monster headache he felt developing in the base of his brain but so far it had been useless.

He had woken up ungodly early this morning and had managed to scramble over the passed out bikers gathered around the main room outside and make his way to the kitchen to start up a fresh batch of strong coffee.

The night before had been Juice's birthday so of course there had been a huge wild party to celebrate the occasion.

Chibs had once again found himself unable to enjoy the attentions of any croweater. Instead he'd found himself stuck to a bottle of Jameson.

He'd managed to have a few drinks and play a couple of rounds of pool before he wished Juice a happy birthday and called it a night.

He'd spent the night alone locked up in his dormroom his brain hazy enough that he'd actually gotten a pretty worry free sleep.

Of course that easy going attitude had died the second he'd awoken and remembered his first task of the busy day he had planned.

Today was to be a busy one. He was going to take Nina out for coffee sometime around noon today. Today was the day he planned to come clean to Nina about his past about his life within SAMCRO.

He was terrified that Nina wouldn't take this well. He didn't know what he would do if she feared him and his life enough to pull Sophie away.

He knew that he had to approach this all carefully. He couldn't lose his chance to be there for Sophie. He had to find a way to make it clear to Nina that nothing would ever happen to the child; that he would never allow anyone to hurt a hair on the little girl's head.

Before he got to that though he had one highly important phone call to make. He had another daughter to contend with. He knew she was just as likely to pull away from him.

He held his cheap flip cell phone up to his ear his stomach aching and rolling. His poor stomach was churning so hard that he could almost hear it gurgling.

He'd been dreading this phone call but he knew there was no way of avoiding it. The sooner she knew the truth the better.

He already knew that the reaction he was going to get wasn't going to be just splendid. He'd just begun to gain her trust and now here he was throwing some massive bit of life changing news her way.

This didn't exactly make for the consistent calm father daughter relationship he'd been hoping to give his Kerrianne. He'd known just how badly she needed some consistency in her life; after all of the madness that had been crammed into her fifteen years of living.

She had been through more in fifteen years than anyone should ever have to go through. Chibs had wanted to provide her with some small sense of normalcy in her parent's otherwise unconventional lifestyles.

He'd been sure to time his phone call to the time change from Charming to Belfast. There was an eight hour time difference to consider.

So though it might be early morning here it was already far past noon in Ireland.

He cringed his grip tightening on the cell not shocked to hear a hint of tension in the voice on the other end of the line. "And when did ya find this out?"

He closed his eyes taking a deep breath as he replied. "Jus earlier this week. I had no idea I swear to ya."

Chibs felt his stomach plummet as Kerrianne let out a heavy huff not apparently not completely satisfied with this answer. "And she jus left ya like that?"

"It's complicated love. I left Nina firs. She was upset with me fer a good reason." Chibs admitted knowing that he couldn't lie to the girl.

He tilted his head down overtaken with shame at this admission. He knew what he must sound like to his girl; some rotten deadbeat father.

That was the exact thing Jimmy O' had spent years telling Kerrianne about her father; saying that Chibs was nothing more than some coward who'd abandoned her ma and she; running off to the states not caring about her at all.

He felt his heart twist as Kerrianne spoke her voice breaking a little her shock quickly being replaced by anger as she struggled to express herself. "Jus how many kids do ya have da?...I mean over the years you've...how many kids could there be out there?"

Chibs let out a ragged breath part of him wanting to scold the girl for this insenuating comment. The other part of him knew though that she had the right to blurt something like that out.

He hadn't exactly been a saint in the years he'd spent away from Fiona and Kerrianne. He'd been with more than a few croweaters and sweetbutts.

Though Nina was the only non club related woman he'd been with since Fiona, Nina had still been another woman he'd bedded.

He couldn't be angry with Kerrianne for making any assumptions.

After all he'd had another daughter wandering around this planet for five years now without his knowledge. It was easy for Kerrianne to assume that there might be more half siblings peeking out of the woodworks.

Chibs knew of course that there weren't any more children. He'd been so careful all these years. Nina had been the only one who he'd let his guard down with.

To this day he still had no idea what had been so special about Nina that he'd felt safe enough with her to not use any proper protection. All he knew was that Nina had let her guard down for him and he'd soaked her trust up.

He'd never once in a million years imagined that she would become pregnant. Now he was dealing with the consequences of it all, and it seemed that one of those consequences was dealing with his eldest daughter's reaction.

He took a deep breath trying to keep his temperament even. He couldn't let this turn into a shouting match. "Sophie is it lass. Yer my only children."

He felt his heart sink as Kerrianne didn't even give him a response. He heard the distinct sound of the phone click as it was disconnected. She'd hung up on him.

Chibs slammed his phone shut tempted to fling it across the room.

He knew that he shouldn't be so shocked by his eldest daughter's rage. Though Kerrianne was mature for her age she was still a fifteen year old girl and she was behaving the way any fifteen year old would behave reacting to news like this.

It didn't help that Kerrianne and he had never really had the opportunity to have a typical father daughter relationship. They were so far apart; oceans away.

The distance between them made things difficult. They weren't able to have a normal relationship where she was able to see him whenever she wanted to.

He imagined that Kerrianne saw Sophie as competition. The younger sibling was something that would take up their father's time and attentions.

Sophie could see Chibs whenever she wanted to. He was able to be there for the little girl in ways that he'd never been able to be there for Kerrianne.

The blossoming sibling rivalry put strain on an already fragile parent child relationship.

In a way they were strangers. He could only imagine all the bullshit Jimmy O' had spent years beating into the girl's head; lies about Chibs Telford.

Of course Kerrianne had never quite believed Jimmy O's tales. The father she remembered had been a doting loving father.

The most clear memory Kerrianne had of Chibs was him taking her to the park near the apartments they'd lived in every single Saturday. He would push little Kerrianne on the swings even after his arms began to ache. After that he would always buy her a cherry ice pop even though Fiona would scold him for giving her a sweet treat so close to dinner time.

Despite these pleasant memories the time Chibs had been away from Fiona and Kerrianne had done its damage.

Kerrianne had been so anxious when she'd been reunited with her da. When he'd walked up to her that day outside SAMBEL's headquarters all Kerrianne could do was stare up at her father her wide eyes locked on those terrible scars Jimmy O' had given him.

She'd felt so sad seeing her dear da knowing that he'd been scarred and then forced from Ireland ; forced from his family.

When Chibs had hugged her Kerrianne had been able to completely understand that everything Jimmy O' had said had been a lie. It was just like Fiona had spent years telling Kerrianne Chibs loved his daughter it was so clear.

Kerrianne hadn't wanted Chibs to leave Belfast. She had hoped that he would find a way to patch back over to SAMBEL, that he would find a place to live in Belfast. She'd wanted to be just like other girls her age who went back and forth visiting their separated parents' homes.

She'd felt angry when Chibs had gone; to be honest she'd felt a little abandoned. A tiny voice in the back of her mind told her that her da was choosing SAMCRO over her.

The only comfort Kerrianne had was knowing that Chibs had kept true to his promise to her. He'd called her every chance he got and he hoped to visit her as soon as the club would allow him some time away.

The pair had hoped that it would be smooth sailing from there on out; that they'd finally have their chance at being a real family.

Chibs had felt as though he'd finally broken through any pretenses Kerrianne had about him when he'd left Belfast. Now it felt like he was back at square one with the girl.

He let out a heavy sigh as his cell phone began to ring again. He felt his stomach plummet once again as he stared down at the familiar number.

He answered it not shocked as he answered the cell only to be confronted with an aggravated voice. "What did ya say to our daughter?"

"It's a long story." Chibs remarked his headache only intensifying. He'd never liked it when Fiona yelled. She was what people imagined when they said the words Irish Temper.

He'd been attracted to how much of a spitfire Fiona was when they'd first fallen in love, but now her fury just made him feel irritable and guilty.

He tightened his grip on the cell as he spoke fully ready for the barrage of anger that was surely coming his way. "I met a woman five years ago...we had, a night together and...and I have a daughter. I jus found out bout the girl. Nina and I had some issues but we're tryin to figure this all out fer our daughter...I tried to explain it all to Kerrianne, but she didn't want ta hear it."

The two sat in silence for a long moment Chibs spending the time preparing to defend himself from Fiona's rage.

He was shocked as Fiona spoke calmly letting out a heavy sigh. "I'll talk ta Kerrianne...I can't promise ya nothin, but I can try to talk this through with her."

She paused for a moment letting out another sigh as she spoke again. "These past few months have been hard on her. She misses ya and she worries bout ya. She's jus afraid of losin ya somehow...Ya jus got back in her life, her defenses are still up."

Chibs held his head low shame still rolling through him over how this entire situation had gone so horribly.

He feared that Fiona wouldn't be able to get through to their daughter. He feared that Kerrianne would hold this against him forever.

He didn't want to trade his relationship with one daughter for a relationship with the other. He wanted both his children; he wanted his girls to come together; to be sisters.

The thought of his Kerrianne shutting him out made his heart twist. He'd spent so many years being kept from her; wanting to be her da so badly.

He'd finally gotten her back and he never wanted to lose her again.

Chibs spoke up his voice full of conviction. "I'm not goin anywhere Fiona. Kerrianne will always be my baby. This changes nothin. I swear to ya that I'm goin to be there fer her even if she doesn't want me."

"I hope ya mean that Filip." Fiona replied her voice tense. He could sense the anger bubbling up under the surface of her voice. He was just relieved that she was holding that rage back.

He let out an exhausted sigh at the sound of the phone hanging up his end of the line going dead.

He tossed his cell down on the table beside his coffee his headache coming on in full force now.

Chibs knew that he'd done all he could for now. It was up in the air for now.

He took a deep intake of breath doing all he could to calm his anxieties. He wasn't going to lose Kerrianne. His girl wouldn't disown him.

He promised himself that he wouldn't let Kerrianne shut him out. He refused to lose her again; not after all these years apart.

His children would find a way to come together one way or another. He'd make sure of that.

Nina sat on the back of Chibs' bike her arms wrapped around his waist. She tightened her hold on him as the bike jolted forward the traffic lights in front of them turning green.

Nina had been surprised to see that Chibs was now riding a different bike than the one he'd had all those years ago.

The bike he'd had back then had seemed older and more stripped down; as though he'd only been able to afford the bare basics to the Harley.

This Harley was obviously brand new; it was a shiny black and chrome bike with a ton of get up and go to it.

Nina frowned trying hard to ignore the stir that developed within her at the feel of Chibs' stomach underneath her grip.

Though he was still a bit chunky she could feel a tightness to his abs and it made her body react in the last way she'd wanted it to ever react to Chibs Telford.

It irritated her to actually admit that she was enjoying being on the back of his bike. She loved the feel of the engine vibrating underneath her body. She was happy to take in the smell of Chibs' leather kutte against her nose. She felt a thrill go through her over the fact that she could feel his muscles tighten with each little maneuver he made to the bike.

She dispised the way she found the air blowing past them so refreshing. She hated how free she felt speeding through the streets on this bike the scenery passing them by.

She hated the way her heart felt right at home. She hated the way she was hoping the ride would never end.

Chibs couldn't deny the way his heart beat so fast at the feel of Nina's arms wrapped around him. Each time they stopped the bike at a street light or a stop sign he was enveloped with the scent of Nina's watermelon body mist.

He didn't want to admit the surge of pride and lust that had shot through him as he held Nina's hand helping her become situated on the back of his bike. She looked as though he should have been there all along sitting behind him her breath catching each time they zoomed forward.

Chibs was unable to take his eyes off Nina's body as they finally dismounted the bike in the parking lot of a local diner.

He admired the way her dark wash jeans hugged her hips and her bottom. He admired the way the dark blue blouse she wore gave a perfect view of her cleavage. His breath caught a little as she took the black cotton hoodie she'd been wearing off a bit of her blouse lifting up in the process showing a hint of her smooth stomach.

He resisted the urge to reach out and caress her skin as he shifted his eyes away from her. He knew the last thing he needed was her catching him in the act of staring at her like this.

Chibs silently reminded himself that he couldn't allow his hormones and any lingering feelings he might have for Nina get in the way of what they'd come to discuss today.

The two sat in silence in a booth inside the diner neither of them quite sure where to begin.

Nina could admit that she was still in shock over the notion that Chibs was turning out to be a fantastic dad.

He'd been so wonderful with Sophie that day at the apartment. He'd been so gentle and so patient with the girl.

It was clear that her daughter adored the man. This realization filled Nina with guilt.

She was beginning to realize in her efforts to protect her broken heart and her Sophie from the man she'd assumed Chibs to be she'd only succeeded in withholding a father's love from the girl.

Nina was starting to realize that she'd withheld both Sophie and Chibs from years of bonding together. Because of her actions Chibs had missed so much time with Sophie; years of birthdays, years of Christmases, Sophie's first words, her first steps, taking the newborn girl home from the hospital, spending late nights up with the fussy infant holding her safe in his arms.

He'd missed years that he could never get back.

She couldn't help but to feel that Chibs should absolutely hate her for this. He should have told her to shove her broken heart where the sun didn't shine.

He shouldn't be sitting her so calmly sipping his coffee and shifting the cherry pie the waitress had brought him with his fork. He shouldn't be so forgiving.

Nina did all she could to keep these realizations shoved deep down as she sliced into her own pie staring down at the bite as she spoke. "Sophie hasn't stopped talking about you since you left."

This little statement made most of the anxieties Chibs had melt instantly. He spoke up a soft smile on his face. "I haven't been able to stop thinkin bout her...She's perfect lass."

He paused unable to hide the affection from his voice as he spoke again. "Ya've done an amazin job with her Nina."

Nina widened her eyes spotting the admiration in Chibs' voice. She took a deep breath ignoring the way her heart fluttered at his words. "Thanks...To be honest I feel like I have no idea what I'm doing most of the time."

She paused letting out a nervous laugh attempting to make a joke to ease the way her stomach was rolling in anxiety. "I keep on wishing that parenting came with a guidebook or some sort of instruction manual. I still feel a little lost sometimes. Sophie can be a handful when she wants to be."

"Aye...Like I said the other day; that's probably my genes kickin in." Chibs remarked remembering how difficult he'd been as a child.

He'd been a little hellion. He only hoped that Sophie didn't take after him too much or Nina and he would be in for a hell of a time once she reached her teen years.

Nina gave him a soft smile not helping but to feel a bit of awkward tension in the diner melt with that comment. Though she hated to think of just how much of Chibs' personality Sophie might of inherited.

She felt her stomach roll as she thought of her daughter all grown up on a Harley of her own or worse on the back of some biker's Harley.

Nina put that thought out of her mind knowing that Sophie was going to rebel. She could only hope that the girl rebelled by becoming straight laced and proper. After all how else could you rebel when your father was the definition of rebellion.

She felt at ease as Chibs spoke again the affection still so relevant in his voice. "Ya've done so wonderfully with her lass. She's smart and polite and jus...perfect. She's a gorgeous wee lass...which I'm guessin she got from ya and not me...I don't think I'm too terribly pretty."

Nina let out a laugh at this statement her cheeks flushing a little at the gorgeous comment.

She felt her heart flutter again at his comments. She felt her heart pull towards him the attraction she felt for him returning and flooding within her.

She took a deep breath shoving all these emotions back. She couldn't fall for him.

Any chances they might have had together had ended so long ago. It wouldn't be appropriate to even attempt anything together not when Sophie was involved.

Nina knew that if things ended badly for Chibs and she then Sophie would be hurt. Nina knew that she couldn't risk her daughter's heart even if it hurt to shove anything she felt for Chibs away.

She pulled her gaze from Chibs turning to her pink tote purse and shifting around in it until she finally found what she was looking for.

She pulled out a thick stack of photos handing them over to Chibs as she spoke. "I went through my photo albums last night and make some copies...I thought you should have these...I tried to arrange them by year."

Chibs stared down at the pictures his eyes misting at bit at the sight of the numerous pictures. He shifted through the photos his mind overrun with love and sorrow over the notion that he'd missed these little moments.

These were all the years he'd missed; Sophie soon after she'd been born her skin holding a pink hue her eyes still shut blind to the world around her. Sophie at her first birthday covered in pink and white icing the remainders of a Hello Kitty cake in front of her. Sophie at two sitting in the bath suds splashing around her as she flailed her arms giggling. Sophie at three at the zoo posing beside the flamingo exhibit. Sophie at four at the beach knelt down in the sand building sandcastles. Sophie just recently sitting in Nina's lap Nina's arms wrapped around the girl's waist holding her protectively.

Chibs found it so easy to imagine himself on the other side of the camera during these moments.

He could picture himself standing outside the hospital nursery when Sophie was born his eyes locked on her so full of fatherly pride. He could picture himself at that first birthday party chuckling as Sophie tore into her cake. He could imagine himself trying to settle the girl into the bath and stop himself from being soaked with water in the process. He pictured himself at that zoo Sophie resting in his arms as he pointed out all the animals to her. He could picture himself on the beach with Sophie and Nina attempting to make sandcastles as Nina laughed at his attempts. He could picture himself nestled up beside Nina in that final picture his arm wrapped around her their girl in between them.

These thoughts were both so happy and sorrowful. He loved picturing these moments but it killed him to realize that it was all just fantasy. He'd never gotten to be there to experience these things.

He pushed these imagined scenarios from his mind knowing that dwelling on them did no one any favors.

Chibs took a deep breath as he spoke trying hard to hide the way his eyes had watered a bit at these photographs. "Thank ya...these are wonderful."

Nina twisted her lips the guilt creeping up in her again as she was reminded that he could have actually been there for all those moments she'd captured on film; if only she would have allowed him the opportunity.

Chibs felt his heart begin to pound in his chest as he spoke. He knew that he had to bring this up. There was no way to hide from his past. "We have a lot ta talk bout...There's a lot about me that ya need to know...more than jus the club."

Nina tightened her grip on her fork knowing that this wasn't going to be a pleasant conversation. She couldn't help but to fear what could be worse than SAMCRO.

Chibs sighed relieved to see that the diner was empty enough to give them some privacy. The waitress was more interested in the magazine she was reading than in listening in on her customers or hovering over them.

He pushed the anxiety attack he felt rolling around in him away as he spoke up his voice low enough to avoid the chance of being eavesdropped on. "I had a messy past in Belfast...I was involved in some shite."

He took a quick sip of his coffee not caring that it singed his tongue as he spoke again. "The IRA...I...my wife Fiona she came from a long line of it...I got caught up in it too when we met. Soon we were married and I was heavily involved in the cause fer a free Ireland."

He paused again taking a quick glance at the waitress so thankful to see that she was still lost in her Cosmopolitan magazine. The last thing he needed was her sticking her nose in this.

Nina felt a wave of nausea wash over her at those words. All she could think of when she heard the word IRA was car bombs, Catholics and Protestants, and acts of terrorism.

"Why are you telling me this?" She blurted out fear rolling around within her. She didn't need to know that about him, she could have lived forever never knowing about that side of Chibs.

Chibs felt his heart ache at the fear in her voice. He reached up placing his fingertips against his scarred cheek as he spoke up his voice uneven. "Because it's part a why I look like this...it explains a lot bout me...things ya need to know."

Nina let out a sigh hesitant to allow him to continue.

A big part of her wanted to push him away out of fear. She wanted to order him to stay the hell away from Sophie and she. How could she trust him knowing about this? The IRA, it was all so much to take in?

Yes she'd known that he wasn't an angel. Everyone in Charming knew that SAMCRO was more than just an innocent motorcycle club. There were rumors and little hushed secrets passed around about the club around town.

Nina had known just what he was the night they'd met. She had known what the kutte on Chibs' back meant.

She was in shock realizing that his past was far more complex than she could have ever imagined. There was more to fear than Chibs' life in the MC.

Something in her kept her from expressing her fears though. Something stopped her from pulling away just yet. It was the way he'd reached up touching those scars along his cheeks; the way his voice had caught as he'd spoken.

This was painful for him, Nina realized. He was letting her in on a part of him that he must not reveal to just anyone. He was trusting her.

The least she could do was trust him.

She stayed in her seat nodding her head as she spoke. "Okay...go on."

"Fiona and I were happy fer a few years at least...we had a daughter; Kerrianne. There was this man though...a friend of Fiona's. His name was Jimmy O' Phelan. He was in love with Fiona. He wanted her connections, her family had been involved in the cause fer three generations. They held some prestige in that world. So Jimmy he took what he felt was his." Chibs explained his heart speeding up as the words spilled from his mouth.

He stared down at his half empty coffee cup fearing the look in Nina's eyes. He wasn't sure what would be worse to see from her; fear, disgust, or pity.

He took a deep breath trying breath through the anxiety attack he was experiencing. He rarely told this story to anyone. It was common knowledge amongst the Sons and they never forced him to recall this part of his past.

His brothers knew not to push the issue. He'd gotten into more than enough fights when the scars had been mentioned by some drunken idiot or by some rival MC member.

He'd always won those fights letting the rage and the pain he felt fuel his punches.

Telling this story was a new experience for him. For once he couldn't allow the pain to take control. He had to keep his cool.

He spoke again still not tearing his eyes away from his mug. "It happened before I even realized it...I came home one night late...I'd been tied up all day with work at the garage I'd been workin at as a legitimate form of income...When I walked into the apartment and turned on the lights Jimmy was there. He told me that Fiona and Kerrianne were already gone...that my girls were his now. He came at me with a knife. To this day I still think he meant to slash my throat. He got my cheeks though...He laughed when I was lying on the floor my hands over the cuts tryin to stop the blood. I'll never forget what he said...a Glasgow smile fer the Glasgow trash."

Nina surprised both herself and Chibs as she reached out placing a hand over his. She stroked the top of his hand the maternal part of her personality overpowering her fear for a moment.

She didn't like the amount of pain in his voice. No matter how frightened she was to learn about this side of his past she couldn't stand to hear how much he was hurting.

Chibs managed to give her a tight smile as he finally allowed his eyes to meet hers. He was grateful to find that the emotions behind her eyes remained vague.

He managed to speak his voice still shaky. "I tried to fight him on it. I fought fer my family but he told me he'd kill my girls if I pushed the issue. He exiled me from the cause and from Ireland. I joined up with the Sons charter in Belfast after that. I spent bout eight years there with em...I tried to keep an eye on my Kerrianne from afar, but after a while it was jus too painful to see her and know that I couldn't be her da...I patched over to Charming. I hadn't been in Charming long when we met. Ya were the firs woman who made me feel attractive."

Nina continued to stroke his hand wanting to badly to bring up the last part of that statement. She wanted to know why he'd left her then; if she made him feel so good then why'd he walk away.

She held her questions in though knowing that now wasn't the time.

She didn't have an opportunity to say anything as Chibs continued to speak knowing that there was still more to tell. "I was reunited with Fiona and Kerrianne a few months back...Fiona and I were never able to get a divorce...Jimmy wouldn't allow us to speak long enough to do it. I tried to make things work with Fiona...tried to recapture what we had, but it's useless...we aint the same people we used ta be. There's too much pain between us to fix anythin. She won't divorce me though...She says marriage is a contract between us and God...I don't know what to do bout that...I don't wanta make her angry enough that she'd pull my Kerrianne away from me. They know bout you, bout Sophie. Kerrianne isn't takin it well, but I think she jus needs some time ya know."

Nina felt her throat tighten up her mind spinning from all this information. She was unable to stop herself from speaking up the realization that he'd been married when they'd slept together hitting her hard. "Was I your mistress Filip? You were married and we...we were together."

She felt her cheeks flush embarassed at the idea of it. She couldn't think of something more shameful; being the other woman, having a baby with a married man.

"No of course not Nina...Fiona and I might a been legally tied to each other but we weren't together...we've been estranged fer so long. The only way ya coulda been my mistress was if I was still with Fiona." Chibs reassured Nina his heart twisting at the look on her face.

She looked so ashamed and he hated it.

Nina took a deep breath reassuring herself that he was right. If he hadn't been actively in a relationship with Fiona then Nina wasn't technically a mistress.

She felt her stomach roll as she spoke fear seeping into her words. "What about Jimmy O'? You said you were reunited with Fiona and Kerrianne? He wouldn't let you see them."

"He's not a problem anymore Nina...He's hidin out somewhere tryin to get into South America. The clubs' tryin to get to him firs. I don't want ya to worry bout that. He aint goin to be a problem." Chibs assured her his throat tightening at the look of fear in her eyes.

Nina nodded her head her mind still spinning so fast. He'd just dropped something so unbelievable on her.

Nina was sure that she might think he was telling her some elaborate lie if he didn't have the scars to prove his story.

A part of her wanted to pull away from him. This was just so much; the IRA, an estranged wife that he hadn't divorced, some monster named Jimmy O'.

She was so conflicted part of her wanted to take Sophie and run far away from Chibs and part of her actually wanted to tell Chibs how sorry she was that he'd experienced such pain. She wanted to promise him that she would always be there for him, that Sophie and she would always be there to take care of him.

Nina puled her hand away from his her stomach rolling and aching as she tried to decide just what her next move should be.

She pushed away the voice that was telling her to run as she spoke up her voice firm. "You have to promise me that nothing in your life is going to come back to hurt Sophie. I mean nothing from your past or SAMCRO Filip. Nothing can effect Sophie. She's only a child...and if you're going to be her dad then you need to protect her. I need to be able to trust you."

"I'd never let anything happen to her lass. I'd never let anythin happen to either one of ya. I promise ya Nina both ya and Sophie are goin to be safe. Ya can trus me." Chibs blurted out needing so badly to reassure her.

He couldn't bear the idea of her pulling away from him; taking the little girl who he loved so.

Nina took a deep breath his words seeping into her. Could she trust him?

She already knew the answer. She had to give him the chance didn't she?

She'd already tried not giving him a chance and that hadn't worked out well for either of them.

Nina stared into his eyes her voice still firm. "Okay...just don't let me down Filip. Don't let me regret this."

Chibs nodded his head relieved to know that she was giving him this opportunity. It would have been so easy for her to pull away from him; to be afraid.

Nina took a sip from her cooling coffee as she spoke up trying to convince herself that she was doing the right thing here; giving him a chance. "I want us to figure out what's best for Sophie. I know I need to ask, I mean you deserve the option...do you want a DNA test? You're the only man I was with, but I know that seeing it on paper might be...might be something you need for closure sake."

Chibs frowned a little thrown off by this question. He could understand why she might bring it up. After all wouldn't most men want some paper evidence that the kid was his?

He surprised Nina as he spoke up. "No I don't...I know yer being truthful with me lass. Ya said that I was the only man ya were with then I believe ya. Besides Sophie has my eyes...My Kerrianne has those same eyes. That's all the proof I need. Sophie is my baby girl."

Nina nodded her head still in shock. She'd been fully ready to shell out the cash for a DNA test.

She spoke up knowing that though this wasn't exactly a pleasant conversation it had to be discussed. "I don't want to be forced to drag this all through the courts. I don't want to put Sophie through all that mess. I want us to figure out some sort of custody arrangement. You can see Sophie any time you want...day or night. As far as the holidays go we can agree to spend them together somehow...maybe we can agree to get together for a lunch or something on Thanksgiving and Christmas, just the three of us together and maybe us and Kerrianne when she's ready for it. I don't want to bounce Sophie around from house to house... I'll sign any thing you need me to sign to prove that we made an agreement."

She paused taking another drink from her coffee before she spoke again. "I don't need any arrangement as far as child support goes either...I've been doing fine so far without child support and I don't think I need to change it."

"Aye that sounds fair. Yer right it's not fair to drag Sophie through any court shite. I am goin to give ya some financial support though Nina. Anything ya need I want ya to call me and ask. I mean anything lass; groceries, clothing fer Sophie, rent money, gas money, anything Sophie wants. I'll give ya anything ya need...I'll take care of both ya." Chibs assured her knowing that he wasn't just going to back off and leave Nina without a penny.

Sophie was his responsibility just as much as she was Nina's. He wasn't just going to let Nina take the financial burden of raising a child all on her own.

Nina frowned the idea of Chibs taking care of Sophie and her a little disconcerting. She wasn't going to let Chibs pay her rent or buy her groceries. She was a grown woman for Christ's sake.

Nina shook her head letting out a huff as she spoke. "I don't need money Filip. I can't just take money from you like that."

Chibs let out a huff of his own as he replied. "Ya are too. I don't know bout ya lass but my ma always raised me to take care of my family. She always told me that a real man takes care of his own. Sophie and ya are my family lass. I'm goin to take care of ya."

She frowned still not happy to be told that she would take his money. He shook his head as he spoke again. "What else am I goin to do with the money lass...I don't have that many expenses of my own. All I have is my club fee, my rent which is dirt cheap, and my groceries and gas fer my bike. Helpin ya out isn't goin to empty out my bank accounts."

Nina twisted her lips as she spoke. "I don't like the idea of you taking care of me like that...I'm not your responsibility Filip. I'm an adult."

"I'm not sayin ya aren't an adult love. And I'd hate ta break it to ya but the moment ya got pregnant with my child ya became my responisibilty...It's not a big deal. Jus let me help ya out Nina. I promise I won't overstep my bounds. If ya say no to somethin I'll listen...well I'll try to listen."

She tightened her jaw trying not to chuckle at the try to listen. She hated the way her heart sung at the word love. She could get used to being called that.

As much as she hated to admit it Chibs did have a point.

As the mother to his child she did hold some place of obligation in his life. He was just trying to do the right thing, she told herself. She'd be a huge asshole to deny his help.

"Fine. I'll let you help...just don't go overboard. I don't want things to get weird between us...child support always makes things so ugly between people." Nina remarked letting out a frustrated sigh. She couldn't believe she was letting him do this.

Chibs grinned so happy that she was allowing this. He was quick to speak up knowing that he might be pushing it. "Thins won't get ugly lass...we won't let it. Is there anythin Sophie wants lass? Anything at all ya can think of."

Nina sighed as she realized that there was one thing Sophie had been asking for; well one thing that Nina could agree with that is. "She wants to take ballet...It'd be a good thing for her to experience. It'll be a good way for her to learn to take direction. She needs to learn to listen and take someones direction before she starts school this fall. They have childrens ballet lessons down at this dance studio on main street...I passed by the store front when I went grocery shopping yesterday. It looks like a nice place."

"Find out how much it costs and get back to me...I'll take care of everything." Chibs blurted out wanting so badly to give his little girl this.

Nina felt a small smile form on her face at this statement. He seemed so ready to give Sophie this.

As mixed as her feelings were about this entire situation she knew that she could never deny Sophie this.

Nina took a deep breath knowing that it was going to be a work in process learning to trust Chibs and allowing him to do something like this for her.

She was willing to give it a try though. She was willing to do anything to keep Sophie happy.

Nina sat on her sofa in her apartment a glass of sangria sitting beside her, her smart phone held up to her ear as some rerun played on the television.

Sophie had gone to bed hours ago after fighting it of course. Nina felt unable to truly relax though.

Her brain was still going a mile a minute from the conversation Chibs and she had at the diner.

She was more confused about Chibs Telford than she'd been before.

His story made a cold chill run down her spine. How could something so horrible happen to him; the scarring, the loss of his family, the exile from his home.

She was confused by the reaction she'd had from his story. The sensible part of her mind screamed danger and told her to get far away from him. The more emotional part of her brain hadn't allowed her to pull away though. It had insisted that she sit and hear him out.

His words kept on ringing in her mind. Ya were the first woman who made me feel attractive.

If she had been so important to him then why had he run from her that morning? Why had he allowed that slut at the garage to hang all over him that day Nina had come to the garage.

If she'd been so special to him then why didn't he want her?

Nina didn't want to admit how she'd felt those old emotions stirring around in her whenever he was near. Chibs still had such a hold over her.

After all if she didn't still feel something for him then why would the notion of him not wanting her hurt so badly?

She tried to shove her heartache from her had as she let out a huff speaking into the phone about the only other person in her life that puzzled her. "I just don't understand her Rosa. She went behind my back."

"Si yer tia is a difficult woman sweetheart. She had the best intentions though I'm sure." Rosa replied letting out a heavy sigh at her ex roommates exasperation.

Nina shook her head her voice still a little bitter. "If her intentions were so noble then why didn't she come to me first?"

Rosa chuckled at this as she spoke up her voice knowing. "Would you have listened to her niña?"

Nina let out a huff knowing that Rosa had got her there. Apparently Rosa knew it to because she wasted no time to speak up. "And it worked out didn't it? You talked to him today, sorted it all out?"

"Yeah we did...he confuses me Rosa. I still feel something for him and I hate it. I should hate him but I can't. It's like everything I assumed I knew about him is turning out to be a complete and total lie. I tried to tell him I didn't need child support and he won't have it...he just gave me this spiel about me being the mother to his child and me being his responsibility...he's everything I thought he wasn't...I'm just shocked that he's sweet and caring and all the things I convinced myself he wasn't." Nina explained as she took a long sip from her fruity sangria.

Rosa spoke up her voice just as wise as Nina usually found it. "People can surprise you niña tonta. Be thankful he's so willing to help out. Most women have to fight for some financial support. You can't beat yourself up for feeling something Nina. The heart wants what the heart wants."

Nina let out a huff wanting to point out that her heart might be an idiot. She shook her head speaking. "It wouldn't work out Rosa. He and I...it would just be a disaster. It wouldn't be fair to Sophie if it all blew up."

She didn't give Rosa any time to point out that pushing her feelings away was a bad idea as she spoke again concern flooding her mind. "Does Gabriella seem okay to you Rosa? She seems weak...tired. I tried to ask her about it , but you know how tia is."

"Si she's a stubborn woman." Rosa replied causing Nina to smirk. Wasn't that was Gabriella was always saying about her.

Maybe the stubborn apple fell pretty close to the stubborn tree.

Rosa spoke again letting out a heavy sigh. "If there is something wrong she won't tell you, not till she has no choice. You'll just have to let your tia come to you. Like I said she's a stubborn woman."

Nina nodded her head hoping that Rosa was right about Gabriella.

Nina closed her eyes her mind still spinning.

The heart wants what the heart wants. The only problem was she couldn't have what her heart wanted. Why did her heart have to be such a gigantic idiot? Stupid heart. Chibs and she wouldn't work. It just wasn't meant to be.

She just wished that this realization didn't hurt so much.

Reviews? Constructive Criticism?

Tia = (Spanish) Aunt/ Auntie

niña = (Spanish) girl

niña tonta = (Spanish) Silly girl