Silver Lining

'I won't get left behind

when the walls come tumbling in

I'll keep climbing,

I'll keep climbing'

Who She Is

Three whole hours that's how long he had kept her hostage in the claustrophobic interview room til he finally gave up, realising that she wasn't going to break. Not that he hadn't tried. She was exhausted and she wanted out which is why she was happy when another pip squeak of an officer by the name of Hale came in with her release papers and personal effects from her last visit to Charming police station. Singing on the dotted line and grabbing her effects she got to her feet and headed out of the small interview as quickly as her feet could carry her.

On her way she caught sight of Felps pacing in his office, clearly he was pissed at his failure to break her and she couldn't help but feel a little smug that she had held her own, and inevitably beat him at his own game.

As she walked towards the front of the Police Station she expected to see Jax as he had been the one following the patrol car that brought her in, but there was no Jax instead there was Happy. He was sitting on the steps his shoulders hunched as he smoked a cigarette.

Pushing open the glass door she made her way to him, cautiously taking a seat in the vacant space beside him.

Happy caught sight of her out the corner of his eye. Taking the last long drag of his cigarette he flicked the butt to the ground in front of him before turning his head to look at her properly.

"You all done?" He rasped as he used his hand to shield his eyes from the sun that was shinning down on them.

"Yeah. Got my stuff back." She raised the green duffel slightly to show him. "Don't think I can same the same for my truck apparently it's a write off." She said in a sad tone. She'd had that truck since forever, there were a lot of memories made in that truck and most involved the man beside her, and judging by the curl of his lip that threatened to break into a grin she knew he was thinking the same.

Pushing himself from the step he moved to stand in front of her. "Come on." He said jerking his head over to his bike. Doing as he asked Liv stood from the step and threw her duffel over her shoulder so it rested across her body making it easier to ride.

Liv never questioned where they were going, just presumed that they were heading back to the clubhouse but as they started taking the road out of Charming she realised they were going somewhere else, but the question was, where?

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Just over an hour later Happy pulled into to a very familiar parking lot located under a very familiar block of apartments.

Once he'd parked his bike it the spot that was usually reserved for her truck Happy held onto her arm, steadying her as she dismounted his bike.

She wanted to ask him why they were here but looking into his dark eyes she could tell now wasn't the time for questions. So letting it go she led the way to the stairway where they climbed the two flights of stairs in silence. Fishing in her belongings for her keys she finally finding them buried right at the bottom, she ignored his sighs and continued to unlock the door letting them into her small apartment.

As soon as his foot was over the threshold his eyes started observing the tiny apartment which seemed all so familiar to him.

Whether she had done it intentionally or purely by accident the apartment was almost a complete replica of their first home after they had moved out of the clubhouse.

The posters of her favourite bands that littered the walls instead of art, to the candles that were scattered on every available surface to the cream couch that clashed with the old beige recliner in the corner of the room which was similar to the recliner he had put his foot down about, telling her that it was staying whether she liked it or not, obviously she couldn't have hated it as much as she had originally made out because now she had her very own.

Liv dropped her bag to the floor and went in search of her dustpan and brush so she could clear up the broken glass in the hallway. Turning around she stopped when she saw Happy. Thanks to the open plan layout of her apartment she had a perfect view of him from where she stood in the kitchen.

It felt weird to seeing him in her apartment, it was something she never thought would ever happen.

She watched him drink it all in, his eyes covering every square inch of the place. She noticed his eyes linger on the tatty old recliner.

When she had seen it at a yard sale a few weeks after she'd moved in she knew she just had to have it. Seeing Happy and being close with him again had brought back feelings that she thought she locked away never to resurface. And since she'd signed the divorce papers and packed up her shit and left Charming albeit not that far she hadn't been able to stop herself from thinking about him, their life together. And that's why she had to have the recliner, it reminded her of happier times, a time where she was so in love it hurt, a time when the man she was staring at now was the centre of her entire word as she was his.

Although she would never admit it to anyone she found her self some nights curling up on that recliner closing her eyes letting herself imagine that Happy had his arms wrapped around her holding her close like he had done so many times.

Shaking herself from her thoughts Liv went on her way and cleared up the broken glass.

Happy was still lost in his thoughts when heard her curse. Pulling himself out of his memories he turned his head to see Liv in the hallway clutching her hand. It wasn't until he saw the crimson liquid seeping through her fingers that he went to her aid.

She was already on her feet by the time he reached her.

"Fucking glass." She hissed. Happy pulled her hand towards him so he could inspect the wound.

Keeping a hold of her hand he led her to the bathroom which wasn't exactly hard to find in the tiny apartment.

Turning on the tap he gently placed the palm on her hand under the warm running water. His thumb softly running over the cut as he made sure there were no shards of glass in her hand.

Liv stared at him as he concentrated on cleaning the cut on her palm. The man who was now standing before was not the man she had seen this morning. She could understand his anger towards her, she was being awkward as usual and as usual he was just trying to make her see that what he was doing whether she agreed or not was the best for her like he always did.

And although she may not always agree with his methods, fight him like she had that morning eventually she would always come to the realisation that he was right because even after all the arguing all the bullshit she trusted him with her whole heart, trusted him more than anyone else in the world, he would never ever hurt her, and she knew that because she knew her man better than anyone. Which was why she knew that right now he was conflicted. She wasn't sure what about but something had him pulling into himself, and if she had to take a wild guess she would guess that this conflict he had, was a result of his talk with Darby.

"Bandaids?" Liv pointed to the cabinet in front of him. Opening the mirrored cabinet Happy pulled out the box of bandaids and in true Liv style they weren't your usual type of bandaid. They were bright and decorated with funky designs. The one he pulled out was a light blue one with pink love hearts, Happy shook his head. She was such a girl sometimes. "There." He said letting go of her hand once he had dried her hand and applied the banaid.

"Thanks."

"What did Felps want?"

"He took in me on some bullshit possession charge. Said they found crank under the seat of my truck which of course is a lie. He even admitted it. He was just using it so that you couldn't just walk in and pull me out like last time."

"Like that would stop me."

"That's what I said." She smiled at him as he flashed her a rare grin, which soon disappeared.

"Did he press ya?"

"He tried. Wanted info on the club told him I hadn't been apart of that life for 9 years." She watched him shift it was obviously a sore subject and it was, neither one wanted to discuss that. "Wasn't sure if he believed me, kept pushing me."

"Asshole. Think he's going for RICO"

"Maybe, that's what I was thinking, that's why I did what you always told to Do not confirm or deny anything." That comment earned her another smile.

"Glad to see you didn't forget."

"I've never forgot anything you've told me."

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If seeing him in her apartment felt wired then cooking for him as he sat in the recliner beer in hand watching some sports game on her old T.V was just fucked up.

Yet here she was cooking him a bacon and cheese grilled sandwich.

Grabbing the plates she walked into the living space and handed him his plate before sitting down on the couch with her own beer and grilled sandwich.

They sat there long after they had finished there food. No words were exchanged they just both sat their watching the TV which was now showing Young guns, a classic in both of their books. Several beers later and just as the film was ending Liv excused herself telling him that she was going for a shower, and that there was more beer in the fridge if he wanted it. A slight nod of his head was all she got for an answer.

Happy watched her disappear down the hall. His hand wiping across face. For the first in a real long time he was faced with a problem that he didn't know how to solve.

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Clay sat at the head of the Redwood table his hand running across his forehead as he tried to force away the mother of all headaches he could feel coming on.

Today had not gone how he'd hoped.

He should be happy, they finally had a location on the Bandits and he already had a meet set up with Alvarez for later on to discuss a plan of action, but Clay wasn't happy, because he currently had a brother MIA.

His eyes fell back upon the papers that were spread out in front of him. He'd been through the file with a fine tooth comb hoping to find something solid that would help him with his current dilemma, but apart from a few little titbits of information there was nothing solid nothing that was usable. And that left him with a bitter taste in his mouth.

He was brought from the heaviness of his thoughts when the double doors opened and Jax entered, closing the doors behind.

"Find what you were looking for?" Jax asked as he pointed to the paper scattered on the desk.

"This was just a precaution son."

"So I take it you didn't find anything then?" Jax asked cockily. Clay didn't even bother to respond. "I told you that Hap told us everything."

"Almost everything. He did leave out a few details, but you were right. She isn't hiding anything that could threaten this club. But you are forgettin our current situation here, the fact we're down a son and missing a certain stripper, that was last seen talking to a Fed."

"Wouldn't let Hap hear you call her that." Clay scoffed at his words. He was the president of this club. President of the whole charter he could do and say what he wanted especially inside the walls of his own Chapel. "She was arrested Clay, she didn't go willingly she didn't seek him out. Anyway Unser said it was obvious by the mood Felps had left the interview room in she hadn't given him anything." Clay looked at Jax wondering why he was all of sudden so protective of this outsider. Before he had been the one who wanted to go digging into her background, desperately wanting to know who she was and her relationship to Hap and now all of sudden he was her number one fan.

"Okay, you can stop the team Liv campaign, you were right but I ain't gonna apologise for looking out for this club." Clay told him firmly his finger pointed at the blonde biker. "Call Alvarez double check the time and meeting place for tonight."

"Okay."

"And send Lorca in why your at it." He saw the questioning look Jax was throwing his way. But Clay decided to ignore it and thankfully Jax dropped whatever it was he wanted to say.

Collecting the pieces of paper together and placing them back into the folder he heard a knock on the door before Lorca popped his head inside.

"Wanted to see me."

"Yeah, come on in take a seat." Clay directed to the chair that was normally occupied by Tig his SAA. "What can I do for you Clay?" Clay offered him a cigar which Lorca accepted. Lorca lit both his and Clay's before Clay told him why he had called for him.

"I take it you know Hap's MIA at this moment in time." Lorca nodded. "I need to know if I should be worried here."

"If you're asking me if you think Hap's bailed on the club the answers no. I would never question Hap's loyalty to this club, his brothers..."

"But?"

"But I would also never question his loyalty to Liv." Lorca took a long pull of his cigar, letting the smoke escape from his mouth before continuing. "I don't know what went down today at the meet with Darby but my guess is considering he's taken off with Liv that it involves her." Clay remained silent. "I'm also guessing that whatever was offered to Hap and yourself, you were given a bit of time to decided." This time Clay gave a nod of his head telling Lorca that he was right. "Then my guess is he's using that time to try and figure out a way where he can save both your asses. And trust being him being with Liv is probably the best place for him to do that."

"Do I have to be worried about her?"

"Nah, Liv's a good kid, bit fiery but she's got a good head on her shoulders. I know it's probably hard for you to see that, to you she's an outsider and I get that threat but brother to brother I vouch for the girl. You have nothing to worry about when it comes to Liv."

He could hear that his brothers words were spoken with truth but that didn't ease him. So far all this girl had done nothing but cause him a major headache. Not only was she bringing Feds to their door but now she was the subject of the peace offering deal with an enemy. A deal that had dragged his most loyal, most ruthless brother away from where he belonged.

Lorca may sit there and tell him not to worry but Clay could help but wonder if the girl who was supposedly the making of the man who had become the go to hitman of the Sons Of Anarchy could be the one to break him. Something Clay could not and would not let happen.

#######################

During her shower Happy had tried to think of a way out. It had been a very long time since he'd had to choice between the club he loved and the woman he loved.

But that was the decision he was faced with now.

Darby wanted her. But it would be a cold day in hell before he handed her back over to that racist Nord piece of shit especially with his right hand Danny circling around. He was lucky that he hadn't jumped across the table and stabbed him in the heart right there in the diner for just suggesting it. He could thank Clay for that, he was the only reason Darby was still breathing.

Clay never agreed to Darby's demands, never came right out and said that he thought it was a good idea but Happy knew that he did and from an outsiders point of view it probably was.

They could fight all day about who was at fault for Jessica's death but the black and white of it was she was killed by enemies of Samcro, making the death of the Danny's lady land at their door. And the fact that Happy's little visit to her was the catalyst to all this they were getting off easy.

If the situation were reversed Samcro or any other charter for that fact would want blood. But here Darby was offering a peace offering sparing all of them from blood being spilt. All he was asking was for Liv to do a couple shows and that was it, all the other shit would be put to bed. Yes to an outsider this sounded like a pretty sweet deal.

Problem was Happy wasn't an outsider and the girl in question was his girl.

He never thought he'd be thankful for the Feds. But when Clay received a call from Jax telling him that Liv had been taken in, arrested, it thankfully put an end to the little meet allowing Happy to leave without giving an answer or simply killing him and all the Nords in the place.

One week that's how long Darby gave them that's when he wanted his answer.

That gave Happy time. Time he needed because right now he saw no way out of this. Obviously his president wanted him to accept this, it worked in the clubs favour. Already preoccupied with this new bullshit MC making their presence known as they fought their way up, the last thing they needed was beef with the Nords. But at the same time he couldn't do it he couldn't let her step back into the life that he had put his patch on the line to get her and her brother out of.

He needed to clear his head, figure shit out. That's why after sending Jax back to the clubhouse he decided to wait for her alone, and when she did appear beside him on a whim he decided to take her away from all this just for a while just to give him time. He was losing it with her his actions with her that morning had proved that, and if Lorca hadn't interrupted them Happy dreaded to think where it could have gone.

He was freaking out having her at the clubhouse. In Tacoma it was different the people who mattered within the club knew her, knew them together but in Charming no one did. And although they would give her a wide birth out of respect to him as their brother he couldn't expect them to fully accept her when he couldn't tell them exactly what she was to him. And with her in the centre of the shit storm the club was currently riding through he needed to decide exactly who she was to him. If they were ever going to go to bat for her the fact that she was an ex Old Lady who had walked out on him and a soon to be ex wife in two months wasn't going to be enough. He knew it and so did Clay.

Forgetting all the past shit between them, he needed to focus on the present, the future and her position in that.

#########################

Pulling on an old flannel shirt that she now used as pj's she started towel drying her damp hair before making her way down the hall back to the living space.

She stopped short at the sight of Happy. He was still in the recliner but the T.V was shut off encasing the room in dead silence. Instead of beer he now had a glass of vodka. She knew it wasn't his first choice of spirit but it was the strongest stuff she had in her apartment, something he'd evidently found out.

She hated seeing him like this so consumed with whatever heavy shit was resting on his shoulders this time. Even back when they were together in Tacoma and he was just starting out in the club, she knew they relied heavily on him to do things, things that not everyone had the stomach for. And it was because of her because she had made him make his first kill. A kill that they both had marked on their bodies with a smiley face, a sick momentum to some but not to them, the club prayed on that weakness he had for having to protect his loved ones and used it to their advantage.

The night they slept together 6 months ago told her that he was still being used. Their smiley face still stood alone but a little lower to the right of theirs lay seven more.

Even though he'd hate her for it she felt sorry for him.

Finally realising her presence Happy looked up from his empty glass straight at her.

"Hey." Liv gave a tight lipped smile. Pushing herself from the wall she'd been leaning against watching him, she came to sit on the edge of the coffee table so she was just in front of him. Happy stayed hunched over his glass for a moment or two before leaning back creating some distance between them, but keeping his keys fixed on hers.

This is when he fancied her the most. Of course he loved it when she dolled herself up, the makeup, tight clothes the high skyscrapers she called heels that made her legs look like they went on for an eternity, she did that all for him and he loved it. But how she was now, completely natural no makeup, no falseness just her, this is when he truly found her irresistible.

He watched her rest her hand on his knee as she lent closer to him.

"Hap. I don't expect you to tell what happened today but I just want you to know I'm here I'll do anything if it helps you."

Taking hold of her wrist, he pulled her onto his lap a move she didn't resist. His hand ran over the soft skin of her bare thigh, her body reacting to his touch.

Liv wasn't sure what he was doing or why but the way she felt from his touch she wasn't going to stop him so she just sat there letting him take the lead in whatever it was that was transpiring between them.

And when his thumb caressed her cheek she felt herself lean into his touch. Hungrily he brought his lips to hers and kissed her tenderly.

As the kiss deepened he felt her tongue caress his, he came to a decision, a decision he'd probably know along he would make. He would go to war for Olivia Harding, always had always will. She belonged to him and he wasn't going to let anyone threaten her, he was not going to lose her again.

Thanks for all the reviews and adds. So here's another chapter, hope you all enjoyed it. Let me know what you think good or bad your reviews really help and let me know if you like the way this is going.

Thanks again Becca