Chibs scooped Sophie up in his arms pressing a kiss to the girl's cheek as he spoke. "I think it's time fer bed my lovely wee peanut."
Nina smiled as she stood up along with them. Her smile only grew as she spotted the look of total adoration and awe in Sophie's eyes as she stared up at her father.
She had known that he was her father for less than an hour now and it was clear that she already adored him even more than she had before when she'd just thought he was a friend.
Nina had the feeling they had a daddy's girl in the making.
She followed Chibs and Sophie into Sophie's bedroom the smile not leaving her face. She could admit it was still a bit jarring seeing a tough looking guy like Chibs all clad in black and his kutte standing in Sophie's girly little bedroom. He stuck out like a sore thumb in the abundance of every shade of pink imaginable.
It seemed right though; him standing here in their daughter's bedroom with Sophie in his arms. Sophie's tiny were arms wrapped around his neck resting over his shoulders as she stared up at him with such a look of total trust.
It should have been like this all along, Nina realized. Chibs, Sophie, and she together as a family.
Chibs was putting his daughter to bed for what would hopefully be the first of many nights.
She would make sure of it, Nina promised herself. Chibs would have the opportunity to put Sophie to bed every night for as long as Sophie wanted.
Chibs lowered Sophie down onto her bed tucking her in and placing her little hippo stuffed animal in her arms. He knelt down beside the bed chuckling quietly to himself as he attempted to smooth back her wild hair.
Gabriella had forgotten to fix the girls hair before bed; braiding it or pulling up. Nina hoped that it wouldn't be a tangled mess by the morning.
The poor girl had her hair; untamed and prone to tangles and knots. She had to use a special detangling leave-in conditioner on Sophie's hair as well as her own every single morning.
Chibs smiled as Sophie spoke up her voice drowsy. "I love you daddy."
"I love ya too A Stóirín." He replied pressing a soft kiss to Sophie's forehead.
"Are you my daddy forever?" Sophie asked snuggling her little purple hippo.
Ever since Nina had passed the beloved stuffed animal on to her daughter it had become a beloved toy. The little girl slept with it tucked into her arms every night and simply refused to sleep with out it.
Chibs twisted his lips trying hard not to chuckle at the little question. "Of course love. Forever. I'm never goin to stop bein yer da, even when yer sixty years old I'm still goin to be yer dad."
Sophie nodded her head a relieved smile crossing her little features. "That's good. I like that you're my daddy."
"Me too Soph. Me too." He replied his throat growing tight as he was overcome with emotion again for what seemed like the millionth time this evening.
He couldn't remember if he'd ever been happier before in his life; not since he'd been reunited with his Kerrianne just months before.
After leaving Belfast his world had gone bleak again though. Then Nina had come back into his world bringing little Sophie with her. They had changed everything for the better.
Despite all the chaos that Nina and he had been through, tonight had turned out to be perfect in every way possible.
He pressed another kiss to Sophie's forehead so thankful that she was okay with all of this.
It had been so much for her to take in. She was so young so this had to have been somewhat confusing for her.
Chibs was relieved that she had seemed to understand it all and accept it without any doubts.
He'd been so frightened that she wouldn't want him; that she would be upset that the truth had been kept from her for so long.
It was such a relief to know that she loved him; that she wanted him to be her father.
Chibs thought back to his own childhood; how hard things had been, how frightened he'd felt as a boy seeing his mother take the brute of his dad's violence.
The apartment he'd grown up in had been cramped and dirty no matter how much his mother tried to keep the place tidy. The neighborhood had been dangerous.
Chibs had been forced to grow up far too fast; taking odd jobs to bring in some much needed cash to the household.
When he wasn't working he'd taken over the responsibilities of keeping the house tidy, keeping meals prepared, and caring for his younger sister.
His mother had been so tired all the time working back breaking jobs for poor pay. So it had been little Filip Telford's place to pick up the slack at home.
Chibs couldn't remember if he'd ever felt like a kid, not truly anyway.
Things had been so chaotic and violent and just plain gloomy.
He had never felt safe growing up even though his mother had tried so hard to protect Cait and he.
Most of the time Chibs had just felt alone in the world.
He never wanted any of that for Sophie.
Chibs knew he would give Sophie everything he could. He would give and give until he had nothing left to give.
He would be good to Sophie and Nina. Chibs would be what they deserved.
No things wouldn't be perfect. He wasn't lying to Nina about how dangerous his world could be; how unpredictable and just plain savage.
He would do whatever it took to keep his little girl safe though; the same way he kept his Kerrianne safe. No one would ever hurt his babies as long as he lived and breathed.
The same went for Nina. No one would hurt a hair on Nina's head as long as Chibs was around; he'd see to that.
He pressed a few kisses to Sophie's cheeks and her forehead as he spoke up. "Now ya get ta sleep wee love. It's getting late."
Nina and he watched over the girl a bit longer even after her eyes had fluttered shut.
They were both still so entranced with the child. In a way Sophie had saved them both; given them a sense of peace.
Sophie had changed Nina and Chibs for the better.
The child had softened Nina's heart and taught her to let someone in. Sophie had given Chibs a promise of a future outside of SAMCRO.
Sophie had brought Nina and Chibs together; in more ways than one. Because of their baby girl they had found one another again and in that they'd found love.
Chibs was perfectly aware of all of this and he knew that he was willing to do whatever it took to keep his lasses here with him.
Chibs was reluctant to leave the room, but he silently reminded himself that he would have the chance for more moments like this from now on.
Nina flipped on Sophie's nightlight as they left the girl's bedroom leaving the door cracked in case she woke up during the night.
Neither Nina nor Chibs said anything as Nina took his hand in hers leading him to her bedroom.
Chibs was taken by surprise as Nina's lips found his the second her bedroom door shut behind them.
They kissed heavily for a few moments until they were both well out of breath. Nina was the first to speak as they pulled back not helping but to feel a little insecure after their talk in the car earlier. "I love you...I just wanted you to know that I meant it when I said it earlier. It wasn't just me going with the moment...You don't have to say it back, I mean don't feel like you have to say it back because you think I want to hear it...I know you said it earlier...I just wasn't sure if you were feeling pressured...It's not that big of a deal if you don't feel the same...I mean love isn't something that should be forced you know? I only want you to say it if you mean it."
He pressed his lips to hers chuckling a bit as he spoke up. "Yer over thinkin it hen...I wouldn't have said that I love ya earlier if I didn't mean it."
He pressed his lips to her neck causing her to let out a soft pleased sigh. He ran his lips along her pulse point his arms wrapping around her. He reluctantly pulled his lips from her neck as he spoke. "I'm crazy bout ya Nina. Don't doubt it love. Bein with ya makes me happy. Sophie and ya are my world hen. I don't think I've been this happy in...I can't even remember how long."
She smiled up at him knowing that he was right; she was letting her brain do all the talking and working herself up.
She should know by now that ignoring her heart and keeping it locked away so her brain could take the reins just got her into messes.
Nina reached up her fingers trailing through his graying hair. "It's weird...feeling this way so quick? We don't even know each others middle names."
"Mine is Thomas...what's yers?" He asked knowing that she had a point.
He quickly made the decision that he would learn every single little thing about Nina Franklin if that made her feel secure.
"Naomi." Nina replied smirking a bit ready for the joke she'd heard at least a million times.
"Aye I'd tell ya the joke bout that name but I'm sure ya've heard it a dozen times now." Chibs remarked a cheeky grin on his face.
He silently reminded himself to never let Tig know Nina's middle name.
Chibs had the feeling though that if it came down to it Nina could handle Tig being inappropriate all on her own.
She nodded her head chuckling as she recited the joke in her head you know what that spells backwards Imoan.
She was relieved that he didn't tease her about her middle name as he spoke again. "We have all the time in the world ta learn every thing bout each other hen. We love each other...that's all that matters Nina. Being with ya feels right. Tha gràdh agam ort. "
"You're right. I don't suppose you're going to translate that last statement for me?" She asked her cheeks flushing a bit.
She had to love it when he spoke Gaelic. It was probably the most beautiful thing she'd ever heard. She wondered if he would ever be willing to teach her a bit of the language.
Nina also wondered if perhaps he liked it when she spoke Spanish, maybe he found it as beautiful as she found the Gaelic.
He leaned in his breath warm against her ear as he whispered. "I love you."
She pressed her lips to his as he pulled away from her. That little statement was more than enough to make her pretty sure that if she wasn't so dead tired she would beg him to make love to her right here right now.
He loved her, Chibs really loved her.
Nina realized that for the first time in years she felt truly content with her life.
She had her little girl and she had the man who was responsible for that girl.
It all felt so right.
She felt like the luckiest girl on the planet at the moment.
Nina pressed another kiss to Chibs' lips her voice growing soft as exhaustion began to set in. "Lets get some sleep querido. We've had a long day."
"Aye. Sleep sounds good." Chibs replied it just now hitting him how exhausted he really was.
It had been a long day and an even longer night.
At least it was all over now, or so Chibs hoped.
He pressed a kiss to Nina's temple as she pulled away from him to change for bed.
He smiled as she watched her tousle through her dresser for a fresh pair of pajamas. She loved him, Nina loved him.
He finally had both his girls and he wasn't going to let anyone take them from him.
Chibs knew that he especially wasn't going to let Greg Murrier take what was his.
He just prayed that Greg Murrier really would back off and forget the charges like Unser seemed to think he would.
Chibs just didn't want to risk putting Nina and Sophie through any more drama.
Chibs sighed knowing that if Greg pushed he would just push back harder.
For once things in Chibs' life were looking up and he knew that if anyone tried to destroy this he would end them.
Nina was surprised to wake up to an empty bed. She was even more shocked as she stumbled from her bedroom her pink cotton robe wrapped around her, only to see Chibs and Sophie side by side standing in the kitchenette the area smelling like fresh eggs and coffee.
Chibs had sat the girl up on the counter a safe distance from the stove as he attempted to put together a half way decent breakfast.
Nina shook her head as she watched Sophie stare up at Chibs her eyes locked on each move he made. Nina felt a small smile develop along her face at the sight; yeah they defiantly had a daddy's girl on their hands.
She struggled not to burst out laughing as she noticed that Chibs seemed to be picking little shards of egg shell from an egg that Sophie had just carelessly tossed into the pan over the stove in an attempt to crack the poor egg wide open.
"What are you up to?" She blurted out as she walked up beside them helping herself to a cup of coffee.
It was rare for Nina to actually have the time to enjoy a cup of coffee in the mornings without having to rush through it.
Usually she was so busy getting Sophie fed and into gear as well as getting herself ready for work, to even think about starting a pot of coffee.
"Daddy and me are making omelets." Sophie exclaimed peering down into the pan that Chibs was still trying to rid of egg shells.
She paused taking a drink of the juice box Chibs had fished out for her from the fridge before she spoke again. "I told daddy you like eggs. He's letting me help."
"I can see that." Nina remarked wondering if these ham and cheese omelets would be more shell than egg.
Chibs grinned both at Sophie's exclamation of daddy and of the sight of a well rested looking Nina. "We thought we'd treat ya this mornin. I was hopin to surprise ya with breakfast in bed."
Nina grinned back at him as she leaned in pressing a quick kiss to his cheek. "I might just have to get back into bed then."
He pressed his lips to hers in a quick kiss as she began to pull away.
They kept the kiss chaste not wanting to get too lost in the moment given that Sophie was watching every move they made.
Nina ruffled Sophie's hair sighing as she spoke. "Did you set out your clothes for today yet?"
Sophie only gave her mother a sheepish smile in response causing Nina to scoop her down from the counter as she spoke. "Go pick out some clothes that match. And make that bed too. I know you forget every morning peanut."
She didn't speak again until Sophie had scampered off out of view. "Did you talk to your lawyer yet? Unser seemed to think that you should call her...Do you think we'll really need her?"
"I was waitin till I get to the clubhouse to talk to her. Didn't want the wee love overhearin anythin." Chibs explained his stomach knotting up at the thought of what could happen if Greg Murrier decided to be an even bigger ass about this all.
He gave Nina a tight smile doing his best to reassure her. "I'm goin to figure this out hen. Don't ya worry."
"Of course I'm going to worry. I love you." She replied as Chibs managed to press a kiss to the top of her head.
"I love you too. We're goin to figure this out. I promise ya." He reassured her hoping that he wasn't just feeding her an empty promise.
He had already decided to talk to Opie and the others about perhaps paying Greg Murrier a little visit having a nice talk with the man about what happened to people who fucked with a Sons' family.
He changed the subject nodding down at the eggs as he finally turned on the burner. "I hope I got this shell free. Sophie got a bit eager."
"That's why she isn't allowed to help out much in the kitchen unless it's pouring a bowl of cereal." Nina replied chuckling.
She pressed a kiss to his cheek as she spoke again. "So why the special treatment? You don't give a girl breakfast in bed for no reason."
Chibs let out a tired sigh guilt flooding him as he told the truth. "I just wanted to make up fer last night...Things didn't go the way we planned."
"We figured it all out though. Things still worked out for the best." She replied reaching up to straighten his bedhead.
"Aye I know...I know ya didn't have the money fer bail...I know ya dipped into yer savings." He explained still feeling so guilty for the night before.
He didn't regret punching Greg, not really. The jerk had it coming.
Chibs just regretted that his actions had cost Nina money that he knew she didn't really have to spend.
He sighed his stomach knotting up tightly as he remembered all that he had thought of as he sat all alone in that jail cell the night before.
Sophie's little statement kept ringing out in his brain The cops take away bad people right? Why did they take you away Filip? Are you bad.
A little voice kept on supplying the answer to that little question Yes Sophie Your daddy is a bad man.
One day Sophie would be old enough to know about the Sons. She was a bright kid; so surely she would figure out that something was a bit fishy about her father's friends.
One day Sophie would figure out that her father wasn't just a simple mechanic who liked Harleys and had a few friends who he rode with.
If she knew just what kind of things he had done would she hate him? Would she think that he was a horrible person?
Kerrianne already knew just what he was, but it was easier for her. She was all the way in Belfast free from seeing the effects of her father's lifestyle.
And besides she had grown up around the IRA with Fiona. Kerrianne wasn't like Sophie, she'd never had a sense of real normalcy the way Sophie had these past five years.
The thought of his little innocent Sophie realizing that he wasn't such a nice guy after all frightened him.
He had never wanted to be a rotten father. It was his biggest fear; being a bad father.
How the hell would anyone think he was a decent dad with his lifestyle?
Decent dads didn't break the law. Decent dads weren't involved in the gun trade nor were they familiar with the IRA and the gangs of Oakland and Charming.
Decent dads coached little league and soccer. Decent dads sold cars and worked in banks; they had cookouts on the weekends and drove station wagons.
Chibs knew that he didn't do any of that.
He couldn't imagine himself behind the wheel of a crummy old station wagon, working a normal nine to five job, coaching Sophie's soccer team in the afternoons, having neighborhood barbecues and block parties.
That wasn't him. It never would be him.
In the past this realization would have never even phased him.
In these past few months everything had changed. It had started when he was reunited with his Kerrianne. And it had only become more apparent when he found out about Sophie.
He became aware of just how unconventional his life must seem to the outside world.
For the first time since Chibs was a young lad in Glasgow he felt insufficient.
It wasn't a nice feeling; feeling as though he wasn't quite enough.
He worried that his world would only screw Kerrianne and Sophie up.
They would always be in danger as long as the world knew that he was their father.
He could piss off the wrong people and it was a distinct possibility that these people could hurt his babies.
After all that would be the best way to harm Chibs; going after his girls.
It had already happened once back when Jimmy O' attacked him in Belfast.
Of course that had been a bit of both Fiona an Chibs' doing; being so loyal to the cause, not paying attention to just how much of a threat Jimmy O' really was.
Still though Chibs knew that the path he'd chosen with the Sons was no less dangerous than the life he had with the IRA.
It was apples and oranges really; there was no use comparing the two because at the end of the day it was all fruit.
Who was to say that Chibs' life and his choices wouldn't lead to another heartache? If not for him than for Nina or their girl, for his Kerrianne?
He wasn't bringing Nina and Sophie into a safe world by any stretch of the imagination.
Kerrianne had already been brought into danger by both Fiona and Chibs, but Nina and Sophie still had a chance at a normal life.
They could pack up and leave today and live in a little suburb with white picket fences, yard sales, and block parties.
Chibs knew that he still couldn't bear to let Nina and Sophie go though.
He was selfish; he didn't want to leave SAMCRO but he didn't want to let his girls go.
Chibs thought of Nina's promises the night before; her insistence that she would stay here with him no matter how rocky things became.
Did she really mean it? Did she know just what she had promised him? Was she aware of just how bad things could really get at times?
He felt his heart sink as he spoke again knowing that Nina wasn't going to be very happy with his next announcement. "The next few days are goin to be crazy hen. Shite with the Russians is heatin up. They aren't happy with the whole payment situation Clay arranged."
"Are you in any danger?" Nina blurted out her stomach churning and aching at the thought of anything happening to Chibs.
She knew that money made people do some pretty disgusting things. Even the nicest most moral people could be corrupted by money, so what would happen when men with no morals were met with a disagreement over a large bit of money?
Chibs gave her a tight smile spotting the worry brewing behind her eyes.
He hated causing her so much anxiety. She shouldn't have to worry about him every time he stepped out of her apartment.
It was the life of an old lady though, and Chibs knew there was no way of saving her from the tension.
He reached out pulling her close to him attempting to sound more sure of himself than he actually felt. "Aye I'm goin to be fine. It'll jus mean that I'm goin to be havin some late nights. I'll probably wind up crashin in my room at the clubhouse fer a few nights."
He sighed his stomach knotting up as he spoke again admitting his biggest worry about this entire situation. "I just...I don't know what we're goin to tell Sophie bout why I'm not comin here at night fer the next few days. She just found out the truth bout who I am...and I don't want her to think I'm abandonin her."
"We'll tell her you're tied up with work or that you had to go out of town. She won't think that you're abandoning her." Nina suggested knowing that it wasn't the best excuse, but it wasn't as though they could tell the girl the truth.
"Aye I guess yer righ. I know that lie isn't goin to work forever though hen." He replied his heart twisting a bit as the truth began to weigh down upon him.
He paused his throat growing tight as he turned to face Nina. "She's going to know just what I am someday...I don't want her to grow up and realize jus what I am."
"What do you mean just what you are?" Nina asked spotting the trouble brewing behind his eyes.
She had only seen that look a few times since she'd known him; the night he'd told her that he'd killed Jimmy O', the day he'd told her the story about his past in Belfast, and the day he'd told her about just what SAMCRO really was.
It was a look that never lead to any pleasant conversation.
Chibs shook his head his mind playing back Sophie's words again Are you bad?
He closed his eyes unable to look in Nina's eyes as he spoke. "A bad guy love...I've done horrible things Nina. One day Sophie will know that I'm not on the righ side of the law. I don't want her to be ashamed of me...or to think that her da is some kinda monster."
Nina placed a hand on his cheek forcing him to look at her. She spoke up her voice as firm as she could manage to make it. "She won't think that Filip. You're her father and that is what she is going to think. One day when the both of us are long gone she's going to look back on her life and think of all the good things. She's not going to look back on her life and remember the bad things that you've done for the club. She's going to look back and remember that you're the dad who read with her and paid for her to take ballet. She's going to remember that you would sit and play tea party with her even though it embarrassed you a little. She's going to remember that you loved me and treated me so amazingly. Sophie is going to remember that you loved the both of us. You're her daddy Filip that will never change."
She paused her thumb brushing over the scar along his cheek as she spoke again. "She is never going to stop loving you for even a second as long as you keep trying to do right by her and me. I seriously doubt that you won't stop trying to give us your best for even a second."
Nina pressed her lips to his speaking yet again her voice growing a little more firm. "Don't ever let me hear you call yourself a monster ever again Filip. I love you and I wouldn't love you if you were a monster."
Chibs let out a shaky sigh her words hitting him hard. He wrapped his arms around her holding on to her tight letting her statement replay over and over again in his mind.
Sophie loved him and that would never change.
Even if she knew the truth about just who and what he was she would never stop loving him.
He hoped that this was the truth. He never wanted to hurt her or frighten her.
He never wanted that for either one of his children.
Chibs took a few deep breaths taking in her familiar scent wanting to soak it up as long as he could given that he would be separated from her for god knows how many days.
He sighed wanting to point out to her that she still had time to back out; she could still escape the life he was bringing along with him.
Chibs knew the truth though he could never let her leave him. He couldn't let her go.
Nina was going to stay here with him; he didn't care what he had to do or say.
He was going to do whatever it took to make sure that she didn't regret promising to stay by his side.
Nina stood at the bar in Estrella's scrubbing the wooden bar vigorously as she tried to ignore the fact that her aunt had been staring at her all morning a look of worry on her face.
She knew Gabriella was itching to talk about what had happened a few days earlier with Greg Murrier and the fact that Chibs had been mostly M.I.A. for the past two days thanks to club obligations.
It had been a long day and Nina wasn't in the mood for this conversation.
Nina let out a huff taking a break from her cleaning fest to take a sip from her bottled water.
She narrowed her eyes at her aunt as she finally took the bait speaking. "What?"
Gabriella made that clicking noise with her tongue that made Nina cringe as she spoke. "Have you had that talk with Filip?"
Nina closed the cap on her bottle of water trying to decide how she should explain that yes Chibs and she had talked, but probably not in the way her aunt had been hoping.
"It's taken care of. We're on the same page." She explained hoping that her tia would just leave it at that.
Her hopes were dashed as Gabriella shook her head a sigh escaping her throat. "This world he is involved in isn't safe baby. You need to think about what is best for Sophie. This isn't the first time he's going to spend the night in jail."
Nina slammed her bottle of water down back underneath the bar. "Weren't you the one preaching to me about how I needed to give Filip a chance? You said he was good for Sophie and me and now you say he's not...and he didn't spend the night in jail, it was only a few hours and the charges are probably being dropped."
"I'm not saying he isn't good for you Nina. I'm saying the life he leads isn't. I don't want you or Sophie getting caught up in whatever messes that club makes." Gabriella exclaimed unable to express her fear any other way.
She wasn't lying. She did like Chibs, but the MC worried her.
She could only imagine what kind of horrible things came with that type of world; death, violence, prison terms, and heartbreak.
Gabriella just wanted to know that the niece she had raised as a daughter was safe in this world.
This wasn't just about Nina after all, there was Sophie to take into consideration.
What could an innocent little girl like Sophie learn from the Sons?
Nina shook her head knowing that she wasn't going to escape this discussion. "I know what I'm getting into okay tia. I know that Filip isn't the safest choice for me, but he's the right choice."
She paused her heart slamming in her chest as she tried to calm her temper and her anxieties.
Nina stared back down at the bar as she forced herself to speak up. "I love him tia...I love him so much. I told him."
"Si what'd he say? Is that why he's been gone so much lately?" Gabriella asked fearing the worse.
She knew that she would kill Filip if he'd done something stupid and broken her niece's heart.
Nina shook her head letting out a soft sigh. "No he's been gone dealing with club stuff...He loves me too. It's happened fast, but it's good, what we have is good and it's working for us...You know it's never been easy for me to trust people, but I don't know what it is...I just, I trust Filip. And it isn't just because he gave me Sophie...I've trusted him from the start."
She paused a soft smile on her face as she thought back to that night.
Chibs had tried so hard to hide the look of sorrow from his eyes when he'd first walked into Estrella's Tavern that night five years ago, but Nina had spotted it.
She had spotted his pain and she had felt a pull towards him.
Maybe she was just a sucker for sad little birds, after all she was a sad little injured bird too, she had been that way all her life.
"He just gets me. He's good to me, he's good to Sophie. He's funny and sweet and he's a good dad." Nina explained knowing that she could never put all that she felt into words.
It was just so confusing for her; feeling so close to someone outside of her aunt and Sophie.
Nina had been so guarded all her life.
She had learned early on in life from her mother Miranda Diaz that you couldn't trust even the ones who were supposed to protect you above all else.
And if you couldn't trust your own mother then who could you trust?
Nina wasn't used to letting anyone in, but Chibs had walked right over those walls she'd built up and it had thrown her for a loop.
"Does Sophie know the truth?" Gabriella asked not having had a chance to speak to the girl yet today.
The new babysitter Nina had hired was already upstairs watching the child by the time Gabriella had made it into work.
Nina smiled unable to hide her joy even with the anxiety she'd been feeling lately. "Yes she knows. She's taken it really well. She's calling him daddy. It's working out. I know it won't always be easy, but being a family is worth it."
Gabriella sighed wanting to press her disapproval over Chibs' lifestyle, but even she couldn't deny the way Nina's eyes lit up as she spoke about Chibs.
Gabriella let out a heavy breath deciding that she would just have to hold the disapproval in.
This was the life Nina was choosing and Gabriella knew that she would have to accept that it was the right one.
She just didn't want to leave her niece in an unsafe world. Gabriella knew that she would have to trust Chibs to keep her nieces safe. No matter how much it troubled her she would have to trust in SAMCRO.
Chibs made Nina happy. It had been so long since Gabriella had seen her niece this happy.
She opened her mouth knowing that now was the time to drop the bombshell about her failing health.
Nina would figure it out by the next month anyhow. Gabriella had her first chemotherapy appointment early next month. Nina would notice the change in Gabriella's state.
Gabriella didn't have the time to work the sentence out though as Chibs came strolling into the empty bar a drowsy smile on his face as he spotted Nina.
Nina tore around the bar practically jumping into his arms. It had been days since she'd spoken to him and she had been worried sick.
She had wanted to be angry with him for not calling, but she had been too freaked out about his safety to worry about not receiving any calls.
Chibs closed his eyes feeling truly at home as he lifted Nina up holding on to her tightly.
He lowered her to the ground his body aching from long days and nights filled with none stop work and negotiations with the Russians.
It was good to finally be home.
Nina pulled back her voice low as she spoke up. "How long are you home? I mean are things okay? Are you just stopping by to say hi, or are you here for good?"
He chuckled not shocked at the barrage of questions being thrown his way.
He could tell she was so relieved to see him; he could see the stress melting off of her by the second as he held on to her. "I'm here till the next crisis pops up. Hopefully it won't happen fer a bit."
Nina nodded her head tempted to ask him for more information; to check that he was in fact one hundred percent okay.
She let out a soft sigh realizing that she still had to close up. She had at least one more hour of work before it was time to close up shop.
She was shocked as her aunt spoke up trying her best to hide her own worries. "You go ahead and get upstairs baby. I can close up down here."
Nina let out a squeak and a giggle as Chibs scooped her up over his shoulder before nodding to Gabriella. "Thanks tia. I'll get er home safe."
Nina continued to laugh as Chibs turned wasting no time to leave the bar before Gabriella had the chance to change her mind about letting Nina go home for the day.
She managed to give her aunt a wave as Chibs carried her out of the bar not willing to put her down after being separated from her for the past two days.
Gabriella let out a soft sigh shaking her head a bit at the action.
Despite her own worries she did manage to smile a bit at Nina's joy. Her niece was happy Gabriella realized.
That was all she had ever wanted for her Nina.
"We'll talk Monday baby. I'll tell you the truth Monday night." Gabriella murmured her body practically melting against the bar as she allowed the strong facade she'd been keeping up to crumble.
Gabriella felt her eyes water as she rested against the bar letting all her pain and fear out.
She was done hiding the truth about her failing health. She couldn't take the pain and the secrets any longer.
Monday Gabriella would reveal all.
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A Storin= (Irish Gaelic) Little Treasure
Happy Thanksgiving. If you don't celebrate Thanksgiving, then have a nice day.
