Disclaimer: Kurt Sutter and FX own any and all recognizable SOA characters and story lines.
"Can't seem to hold you like I want to
So I can feel you in my arms.
Nobody's gonna come and save you,
We pulled too many false alarms.
We're going down,
And you can see it too.
We're going down,
And you know that we're doomed.
My dear,
We're slow dancing in a burning room."
-John Mayer "Slow Dancing in a Burning Room"
Juice had come to clay with anything and everything he could find on Alexander Kellin Mitchell. He had come through, but that day was not the day to get his baby girl all worked up over the impending situation. The club was going to help Madie move into her new digs. Her storage unit of antique furniture would fit the house perfectly, and Clay had recruited everyone but a very pregnant Donna to help. She was keeping an eye on the garage as the prospect worked on the cars.
Madeline was too excited for words. She couldn't wait until she was all settled in. And the massive amount of unpacking was sure to take her mind off of the Happy conundrum that she had been facing. Over the last week, he had become more embedded in her routines. He was possessive of her, not wanting anyone to even touch her in the most innocent ways, but he was coping. He knew that she was as much a part of the club as he was, maybe more so. Those men loved her and he would deal with her being comforted by her family. However, she was struggling with possessiveness as well. Madie knew she wasn't ready to try and dissect what she was feeling as far as Happy, but what they were doing could definitely not be a one-way street. She wasn't going to share with a croweater—that was a deal breaker for her—even if she hadn't given-in to his ideas of their relationship.
She had gotten up early to shower in peace and enjoy a cup of coffee without her shadow. She was relaxing in the armchair of her parent's room when Happy started to stir. He had been up late in the clubhouse the previous night playing poker with his brothers and being entertained by various women she supposed. That thought weighed heavily in her mind. She had no claim to him really, but she didn't exactly want to share anything with those sweetbutts.
"Morning," he said groggily, wiping the sleep from his eyes.
"Have fun last night?" She was giving him the stink eye. She couldn't understand why it bothered her so much. She was the one keeping them from being together—with good reason. Nonetheless, she needed to have this conversation with him.
Happy just glanced at her questioningly.
"I think I need to set a few boundaries in place. I'm not your old lady. Hell, I'm not even your girl, but I am fucking you on a regular basis and I'm not willing to contract some croweater's disease. So if you want this to continue, keep your dick in your fucking pants or keep it away from me." She had a stern, fierce look in her eyes.
Happy wasn't sure where that had come from. He thought it was a step in the right direction, but hadn't expected it. "Okay."
Madie was more shocked that she probably should have been. That was too easy. He didn't fight it at all. "No road pussy either. I don't give a fuck if you have to fight blue balls. I'm not a fucking doormat and I won't be treated like one, especially considering our past."
"Aight. I got it."
The conversation ended so quickly Madie didn't have a chance to wrap her mind around it. Only time would tell if Hap kept his side of the agreement. If he didn't, fuck him. She didn't need him anyway. There were a number of club members willing to keep an eye out for her.
"Well then you need to get up. Gemma expects us bright eyed and bushy tailed in her driveway in an hour. Get up, buttercup. We got shit to do." She grinned as he dutifully climbed out of bed and hopped in the shower.
Madeline had been making a definite effort to avoid Happy all day. She just felt like things were speeding and she still couldn't bring herself to commit to anything with him. She was going to stay in her new house for the first night and she really needed a little space from him. She just wasn't sure how to broach the subject with him.
She was standing in the kitchen as the guys were bringing in the dining room table and chairs. It was the last bit of furniture from the truck. She had gone with Gemma to pick up food from Nicky's for the guys since they had worked all day to help her. She and Gemma had finished getting the food sorted on the counter and made the call. Boots rushed the kitchen digging into the food.
Hap hadn't come down from putting her bed together yet—this was her opportunity to speak to him in private. He had just finished getting the top mattress on the bed when she walked in. He had his shirt off and was glistening with a bit of sweat. It took her a moment to gather her senses so she could talk with him without trying to take him against the wall.
When Hap turned around and looked at her questioningly, she took her opportunity. "I figure you probably need to get back to club business and shit. Maybe you should head back to the clubhouse without me for a few days." She needed to get out her real reasoning as well, "And I could use a little space from you as well."
Hap shook his head. "I said I was sticking with you. I'm not leaving you vulnerable."
"My brother or one of my uncles can stay with me for a few days. Hap, I get that you're trying here, but I can't wrap my head around…us, unless I can get time away from you to think."
Happy didn't want to leave her. He was afraid something would happen and he would be too far away. "How about a compromise? I will stay at Clay and Gemma's across the street and if anything—I mean anything—happens, you call me asap and I can be here for you. But someone still has to stay in the house with you."
Madeline thought that was a sound idea. "Okay. I can live with that." Madie knew how hard it must be for him, so she wanted to give him something to remember. She walked right up to him and placed a hand on his chest. Madie fused her lips to his in a searing, electric kiss. "Just something to tide you over." She grinned up at him.
Happy smirked and hugged her to him for a lingering moment. When he let her go they headed downstairs to eat with the rest of the crew. Mads sat with the ladies in the kitchen so they could get their gossip on.
Hap took a seat at the table next to Clay. While the rest of the guys were wrapped up in various conversations, Hap let Clay know that he and Madeline were going to spend a couple of nights apart because they had been together every minute for a couple of weeks—he didn't want to spill her inner turmoil to anyone again. He still felt like an ass for the last time, and he had only been trying to help then. He had learned his lesson for sure.
"Anyone you thinking should keep an eye on her for you?" Clay asked in understanding.
"Any one of them would take a bullet to the brain for her. Don't much matter to me." Happy thought maybe Mads should make the decision. Just as that crossed his mind, she walked into the room. "Hey, Madie," she turned and he continued, "Who do you want to stay?"
Madie was stunned for a moment. He was letting her decide—this was a huge step. "Juice or Tig. Neither have a family to go home to at night."
Hap nodded in understanding and asked the men who wanted to stay—both agreed. Madie smiled, "Sleepover for 3 it is!"
Hap felt a weight lifted. Tig was a pervert, but he was tough as shit and an assassin—she would no doubt be safe with him. And Juice could even him out as far as keeping Tig's dick in his pants. He was also a good friend of Madie's.
Hap had an epiphany—he wasn't worried a bit about Madie being with other males because he trusted her. He had only ever trusted one woman in his life, and she had passed away from lung cancer 2 years prior. His Ma had been a shining light in his world. She could do no wrong in his eyes and Madeline ranked right up with his mom on his list of important people. His entire view of life changed in that moment.
AN: I'm not entirely sure how I feel about this chapter, but I needed it to get to what is going to happen next. Thanks for reading and reviewing!