Disclaimer-still don't own the recognizable characters, just my own. Thanks, y'all.
Sweating and panting, Ace laid out flat on her back in the middle of the boxing ring. Tig lounged nearby, lying on his side with a towel over his face. He'd been trying to teach her some basic self defense when she'd landed a decent elbow to his eye, already black from Happy's beating. It was a good excuse to call it quits, they were both tired anyway.
"How's your face?" Ace finally asked, not able to conceal her pride at actually landing anything on Tig.
"Still prettier than yours." Tig grunted, and wiped his face with the towel before chucking at her face.
"Gross, Tig." Ace complained, lifting it off of her between her thumb and forefinger, and tossing it aside. "I'm moving Hap's stuff out of the clubhouse."
"Makes sense. There's no reason for a Nomad to be that connected to one charter." Tig mulled the idea around in his head for a while. "What's your motive?"
"Cat." Ace made a face. She sniffed at herself and wrinkled her nose. "I smell terrible."
"I wouldn't start shit with the President's Old Lady." Tig warned.
"I'm not trying to, Tig, but she won't fucking quit." Ace scowled, and threw an elbow across her eyes. "It doesn't matter; I'm taking his stuff down to his mom's, so there's no reason to start anything."
"Hap sending you alone?" Tig asked, with a sharp look at her.
"I haven't the faintest, I only just sprang it on him before I got down here." Ace groaned and rubbed at a bruise on her bicep. "Where's your stuff, Tigger?"
"I still have a studio in Charming. Thought about clearing it out, but it's cheaper than putting shit in storage." Tig answered.
"And that's not too connected to one charter?" Ace snarked, laughing.
"It ain't someone's clubhouse." Tig shot back, then abruptly changed the subject. "You and Killah back to business as usual?"
"Sort of, I guess." Ace shrugged. "I don't trust him not to run again. But I think I'm solid that he'll come back no matter what."
"You're goddamn right about that." Tig grumbled, half to himself. "Killah can't quit you, even if he wanted to, and we both know he doesn't. He's right where he wants to be, greedy bastard."
"I owe you, Tig." Ace remarked quietly.
"What the fuck ever." Tig shot back, uncomfortable with any show of gratitude.
"I mean it, Tigger." Ace rolled onto her stomach and propped her chin on her hands, meeting Tig's eyes levelly. "I don't know where either one of us would be without you."
"Eh, you'd be drunk somewhere and Hap'd be bashing in the wrong heads." Tig shrugged, like it was no big thing. "Eventually, you two knuckleheads would have gotten your shit together. I just didn't feel like waiting around for you."
"Ok, Tig, whatever you say." Ace snorted. "Come on, it's your turn to make lunch."
No Other Man Alive
"Let me take you to work." Happy persuaded, lying on the bed, the sheet barely pulled across his hips. He had that cocky ass grin on his face that was the hallmark of a man that was well fed and well fucked. Ace rolled her eyes at him, but couldn't help smiling back before she went into the bathroom.
"You can't take me to work, I'm bringing boxes back with me later." Ace reminded him, and then paused in putting on her makeup and looked around the doorframe at him. "Unless you're planning on hanging out at the shop tonight?" She asked hopefully.
"Can't." Happy was shaking his head, and reached for his cigarettes. "Got dinner here tonight."
Ace made a face and went back to getting herself put together for work. She didn't like the idea of leaving Happy alone in the clubhouse with the Old Lady brigade, but that didn't outweigh her desire to escape from them, herself. "Can't you skip it?" She called, not really expecting that he would.
"Nope. Especially not the night before we ride out. Sorry, baby." His voice was closer than she expected, and she looked up to see him behind her in the mirror. She tamped down on the frisson of panic, a holdover from the motel in Charming, and smiled tightly at him. He knew, of course, exactly what was bothering her and rubbed his palm up and down her back reassuringly. "You alright?"
"Yeah, yeah, I'm good, big man." Ace shook off the memory and turned to wrap her arms around his waist. "It just catches me at weird moments, that's all."
"Yeah." Happy held her to him and kissed the top of her head. "You sure you gotta go to work?"
"I have a custom piece tonight, and I have to clear out my stuff. Oh and break the news to Eddie." Ace told him apologetically, looking up at him. "I'd rather lock us both in the room for the night, but that's not gonna happen."
"Yeah, better for you to just go. I don't want you hanging around here, getting stressed out with all this shit." Hap set her away from him, and kissed her again. "Get going before I change my mind."
"Alright." Ace pouted a little, playful. "I'll get back as soon as I can. Be good, big man."
No Other Man Alive
Ace slung her bag over her head and locked their door behind her. She kicked Tig's door to let him know she was leaving, and laughed when he cursed her. The smile was still on her face when she sailed past the kitchen on her way out the door.
"There you are!" Ace's eyes widened and she slowed a little when she heard Cat's voice behind her. "Get in here, we need another pair of hands."
Sighing heavily and trying to put a civil expression on her face, Ace turned around to face her. "Sorry, I have to get to work."
"That's not how we do things. I guess you wouldn't know because you're so new to us, but we all pitch in for family dinners, especially when the guys are getting ready for something big." Cat told her condescendingly.
"Sorry, I have to get to work." Ace repeated herself, and took a step backwards.
"Call off. Eddie will understand." Cat demanded, a brittle smile on her face.
"Yeah, that's not gonna happen." Ace shook her head and turned away, returning to her trek to the door.
"Does your old man know that you're skipping this?" Cat called after her. "Club's real important to him."
"Jesus Christ, this bitch doesn't quit." Ace muttered under her breath and turned around again, throwing her hands in the air, exasperated. "Don't you get it? I don't have to play games with Happy like you do, Cat. I will always know him better, and I don't have to manipulate him, because if I ask him for something, he gives it to me. I don't know what you think you're going to accomplish, but for your own sake, just back the fuck off of my old man."
This time, Ace spun on her heel and didn't look back or stop, even when Cat called after her again. Cat's voice rose again, indignant at being ignored, but Ace just flipped her off and hit the door without skipping a beat.
No Other Man Alive
Happy had been planning to get in the shower, but when he'd heard Ace laughing after she'd evidently kicked Tig's door he'd dressed quickly, figuring he could at least follow her to work. He'd opened the door just in time to catch the tail end of Ace's tirade and then Cat yelling after her. The clubhouse was dead quiet in the aftermath, and he scrubbed his jaw and changed his plan for the afternoon again. Kicking the door shut again he pulled out his phone and dialed Bowie.
"Hey Boss." He said when Bowie answered. "You and I need to sit down, sooner the better."
No Other Man Alive
Happy didn't miss the attention he got from Cat when Bowie led the way to the Chapel. He narrowed his eyes and shook his head at her, wanting to send the message that she should be nervous about this sit down.
"So what can I do for you, Hap? Bowie asked jovially. He obviously had his own idea of where this was heading, and he couldn't possibly be further from the truth.
"I needed to clear the air regarding my intentions." Happy said, formally. He sat forward in his chair, crossed hands on the table.
"Are you going to get your release from Quinn? Come back to us, finally?" Bowie grinned, but the smile faded from his face when Happy shook his head.
"No. Quite the opposite, Bowie." Happy told him firmly. "I already talked to Quinn, once Fallbrook is done, we're going East."
"Tracking Rivera?" Bowie questioned, disappointment clear in his voice. "You can still come back here, I'll give you the time to take care of your business, son, you know that."
"No, I can't, Bowie. I'm moving my stuff outta your clubhouse. I won't be coming back to Tacoma, I'm sorry." Happy did feel badly, he loved Tacoma and Bowie had brought him up in the club. His new, split loyalties were hard to get used to, but his gut told him that this was the right choice. "I don't like to get involved in your personal shit, Bowie, but your old lady has been causing all kinds of shit for me."
"Cat? This has to do with Cat?" Bowie pressed, off balance with the unexpected direction the conversation was taking.
"I don't know what she's playing at, man, but her mouth just cost you any chance of me coming back. She's been riding Ace and trying to manipulate me, and after all the shit my old lady's been through because of me, I'm not giving her another reason to distrust this club."
"Let me talk to Cat, I can set her straight." Bowie tried to bargain.
"Too late. I already told Ace we wouldn't come back. She deserves better." Happy pushed back from the table. "I hope you can understand where I'm coming from, but I wanted to give you the news before you risked your charter tomorrow."
"Don't even sweat that, brother. We're committed to clearing out that vipers nest no matter what happens. I'll be sorry to see you go, Happy." Bowie shook Hap's hand firmly, and stayed seated at the gavel while Happy left the Chapel.
Happy was closing the Chapel door behind him when his phone rang. "Yo."
"What's happening, Killah?" Nova greeted him cheerfully.
"Nova." Happy said, resigned, wondering if this was part of Quinn's payback for his disappearing act. "You and Bulldog are closest?"
"Yep. So the little lady needs a bodyguard, huh?" Nova was clearly amused.
"Yeah, she's moving my stuff down from Tacoma to my ma's, and I gotta be in Fallbrook." Happy explained, even though he was sure Quinn had already covered it.
"You mean I get Ace and Delia?" Nova laughed, the prankster loved pushing buttons.
"Don't be an asshole, Nova." Happy growled. "I don't fucking like leaving her in anyone else's care."
"Alright, Killah, chill out. I'll keep her safe, I promise." Nova got serious, knowing that Happy was still too raw to fuck with when it came to Ace. "Me 'n Bulldog are up in Canada, we can make it there before noon tomorrow, that work for you?"
"Yeah. We'll already be on the road to Charming, but that's fine. Just get her there safe, Nova." Happy said and lit a smoke. He hadn't expected to feel this twitchy over putting Ace in someone else's care.
"Relax, Hap. I won't let anything happen to your girl." Nova promised, then hung up.
No Other Man Alive
It was nowhere near the normal end of her shift, but Ace had finished her custom appointment and didn't have anything else scheduled, so she gave into the impulse to return to Happy. She packed up her kit and books, pulling down the drawings she had hung on the walls. In no time at all, the workspace was stripped back down to basics.
"Aw, shit, Happy's stealing you away, isn't he?" Eddie came into her space and looked around ruefully.
"Sorry, Eddie, I was just coming to tell you." Ace apologized, feeling terrible for leaving him an artist short.
"You're fine, Ace. Honestly, I didn't think you'd last past the first night he came back in town." Eddie smiled, and reached across the space to shake her hand. He knew that she wasn't into close physical proximity, and he respected that, both for her own sake and for her old man's.
"Thanks for understanding. And for giving me this job, it was exactly what I needed." Ace felt herself get a little choked up, and cleared her throat loudly.
"My pleasure, Ace." Eddie picked up her bag from the desk and held it out for her. "Get outta here, kid."
No Other Man Alive
Tacoma's club dinners were an important part of why this charter worked so well. With no hangarounds or sweetbutts to interfere, the Sons and their families used this time to really come together and bond as a whole. It was perfect timing to remind everyone why risks like the one they were taking tomorrow were worth it.
Happy had found a spot off in a corner where he could watch the door. It would probably be a few hours before Ace could cut out of work, but the second she came through that door, he was done with the social call. As it was, he'd managed to keep himself out of the thick of things. He liked watching Tacoma's family men in action, it gave him hope that he'd figure out how to manage both sides of himself, too.
"Hi Happy, where's Ace?" Colton jumped up on the couch next to him, grinning. Happy held out his fist for a knuckle tap, smiling back at the kid.
"Still at work, my man." Happy shook his head sorrowfully at Colton. "Left me here all by myself to wait for her, can you believe that?"
"Yeah." Colton shrugged, and sat forward, elbows on his knees, mirroring Happy. "Women."
It took every ounce of restraint Happy had not to laugh out loud at Colton's solemn expression. He didn't want kids himself, but this one was about as cool as they came.
"Did Ace come hang out with you a lot while I was gone?" Happy asked, figuring he'd probably get straighter answers from the kid than he'd ever get from Kozik or Tig.
"No, not really. Mom said she could only stand Tig and Kozik, and that that didn't make any sense to her at all, since she can't stand either one of them." Colton explained, and this time Happy did laugh, but sobered at Colton's next words. "She was really sad."
"Yeah, I know she was." Happy nodded, regretting the decision to ask Colton about Ace in his absence.
"Mom told Dad that it would serve you right if Ace found a way around Kozik and left your sorry ass, but I knew Ace wouldn't do that." Colton confided, very matter of fact.
"Yeah, let's not repeat stuff your mom says to your dad, alright small dude?" Happy scratched the back of his head and was relieved that Ace was on the same page as he was with having kids. He studied the little blonde hellion, trying to picture what it would be like having one with his dark hair and Ace's incredible eyes. Then it occurred to him that they could have a girl and he shuddered at the thought of raising a daughter in the club.
"Ace is here!" Colton darted off across the clubhouse to where Ace was pushing through the door. The nervous Prospect was right behind her, arms full of broken down boxes. She was searching the crowd for him, but was interrupted by Colton launching himself at her, hugging her legs tightly. Happy watched her face soften and she squatted down to hug him back. Colton, in turn, shot Happy a smug look over her shoulder and Happy laughed and got up from his seat.
Ace had already traced Colton's path back to him and she smiled hugely when she saw him approaching. She said something to the Prospect and he headed toward the dorms. Pulling Colton along by the hand, Ace met Happy halfway.
"Hey there, big man." She smiled and slid her free hand under the back of his shirt. Happy pulled her closer and tipped her chin up so he could kiss her. She looked a little surprised, so he kissed her again.
"Hey. Eddie cut you loose early?" He asked, gathering up her hair and pulling it forward over her shoulder.
"No, I asked to leave early. I didn't want to spend that much time away from you when you're riding out in the morning." She beamed up at him, thrilled with the public affection.
"Does that mean you get to stay here with me?" Colton butted in, tugging on her hand to get her attention.
"Sorry, dude, Ace is leaving tomorrow, too." Happy told him, and ruffled the kid's hair. "Get outta here, I want her all to myself for a while." Colton scowled a little, but obediently took off.
"All to yourself, huh? You're not going to hang out for a while?" Ace asked, trying not to sound hopeful.
"Mmm, no, definitely not." Happy held her away from him and let his gaze drift down her tight body and then back up. He'd expected her to roll her eyes at him, but she just bit her lips and met his stare. That was enough for him, pulling her back into his side, he pushed his way through the crowd. The stack of boxes was leaning against their door and Ace scooped them up while he unlocked the door.
Closing the door behind them, Happy took the boxes from her hands, dropping them on the dresser. Next he pulled the bag from her shoulder and added that to the pile. He licked his lips and laced his fingers through hers, palm to palm and backed her against the door, holding their joined hands over her head. He bent and captured her mouth, feeling her moan more than hearing it.
"You're supposed to be packing." Ace smirked at him when he came up for air. He growled a little, and dropped her hands so he could pick her up. She went willingly, wrapping her legs around his hips and resting her elbows on his shoulders, lightly rubbing the top and back of his head. He pushed her back against the door, grinding into her, pleased that her breath caught, eyes going a little hazy.
"I'm gonna take care of you first, then I'll pack." He promised her, nipping at her neck, just below her ear.
"Oh, well if you insist." Ace breathed, and let go of him to peel off her shirt. He kept her against the door for a moment longer, kissing and licking his way across her tits, hiking her a little higher so he could bite down on one of her nipples through her bra. "Oh fuck."
"Mmm, if you insist." He teased, and carried her to the bed, dropping her so she bounced lightly. He stripped out of his cut quickly, turning to place it on the dresser. They were both racing to get naked, caught up in the playful mood, but as soon as he turned back around and got a good look at her stretched out on his bed with just the light from the window falling across her, looking so damn beautiful his heart hurt, he knew he had to do her better than just a really fun fuck.
He went to his knees on the bed, lifting one of her ankles to his mouth, kissing his way leisurely to the sensitive skin at the back of her knee, maintaining eye contact with her the whole time. Sliding forward onto his stomach, Happy cupped her ass in his hands, bringing her pussy closer to his face. He breathed over it, watching the skin on her stomach ripple with goosebumps. At her gasp and tiny whine, he bent his head, licking her from slit to clit. The way she arched and writhed made him even hungrier for her, but he controlled the pace, keeping it slow and steady. Her thighs were trembling, and she was gasping, but he couldn't let her cum, yet. He needed more time to taste her, to savor her, even though he knew that he'd never actually get enough.
"Hap, please." Ace begged, her hands kneading her breasts in an attempt to get whatever stimulation she could to put her over the edge. Happy gave in to her, just like he always did, letting her move against his tongue until she came. He pulled away from her when she made a tiny noise of protest at the contact on her over sensitive skin. He rested his chin just above her pelvic bone, watching her face on the comedown. She had a lazy, sexy curve to her lips and her cheeks were flushed. He could have stayed there studying her, memorizing the way she looked, storing it away against the nights he'd spend without her, but she reached her hand out for him, silently beckoning him.
"Good?" He asked, nuzzling her neck on the way to her lips.
"So good." Ace hummed against his mouth, then sucked his bottom lip between hers, licking the taste of her orgasm from him. She spread her legs farther, hitching one over his hip, and the instinct to be inside her was too strong to even contemplate resisting.
"Shit." He cursed, because that first moment inside her was always so good that it was borderline painful. They both had their eyes open, their breath shared between them. "I love you." He told her, his big hand cradling her face.
"I love you, too, big man." She whispered back, her eyes going soft and misty. It was exactly the kind of shit that he wouldn't have been able to stand in any other bitch, but for this one he was on fire for it.
They moved together, slow and hot. Happy got her to cum twice more, her last orgasm had him gritting his teeth, she felt so good on his cock. He knew he was wearing her out, instead of moaning, she was only managing little whimpers. He caught her mouth again, kissing her hard enough to bruise her lips. He wanted her to feel him all over tomorrow when he had to leave her. Not wanting this to end, but knowing that he still had a lot of shit to do and hoping that maybe she'd be down for another round when he was done packing, he buried his face in her neck and kicked it into a higher gear. Ace hissed approvingly in his ear and this time when she came, so did he.
No Other Man Alive
Ace was curled up on the bed, watching as he methodically packed and labeled boxes. She hadn't bothered to get dressed, which Happy figured was a good sign since he really wanted to get back inside her as soon as he was done, and fuck losing sleep before the twelve hour ride tomorrow.
"You almost done, big man?" Ace asked, rolling onto her stomach.
"Yeah, dresser's emptied out. Just have to finish the closet." He told her, and left it to kiss her before taping up another box. He started pulling down the random little things he had stashed on the shelf. His hand landed on the photo box he kept, bits of his past that he kept around to remind him where he came from. Most of the pictures were from his teenage years, and flipping through them he spotted Ace as a child in the background of more than a few. He came to a few from the days following his release from his first stint in prison. His ma had caught him grinning at the camera, and just barely in the frame, Ace was staring at him, her 12 year old eyes filled to the brim with hero worship. He flipped the picture to her and sat on the floor at the foot of the bed to look through more.
"I don't think I've ever seen this." Ace said. "Oh God, that's embarrassing."
"What's embarrassing?" He asked, looking over his shoulder, where she had scooted to the edge of the bed to look over his shoulder.
"The way I'm staring at you, could I have been any more obvious?" She complained, and he laughed.
"Like that one better?" He asked, holding another picture up for her. This time Happy was the one staring, eyes half lidded; and Ace, probably 16 or 17 was laughing so hard her eyes were streaming with tears.
"You never looked at me like that." She accused, tracing a fingertip across the picture.
"Not when you were looking back." He admitted, and craned his neck back to kiss her. "You weren't anywhere close to legal, that would have been pervy as fuck."
"Yeah, well, I'm very legal now, big man." She cooed, and bit lightly down on his ear. "I'll finish this tomorrow, it'll only be a box or two of chaos, it won't be that bad."
Happy looked at the closet, trying to weigh how disorganized any packing she did would be against getting back into bed with her. There wasn't any contest. He hauled himself off the floor and flipped off the lights, not bothered at all by her peals of laughter.
No Other Man Alive
Happy knew before he even opened his eyes that his mood was about two notches below foul. It was way too fucking early to be awake, he was going to have to leave Ace today, and to top that shit off, she wasn't in his bed. He pushed himself up and looked blearily around, but she definitely wasn't in the room either. His heart rate was starting to pick up as he considered all the weird shit that might be going through her head about him taking off.
He grabbed a pair of jeans, pulling them on as he walked to the door, not bothering with any more actual clothes. As soon as he'd opened his door, though, he could hear her. From the sounds of it, she was in the kitchen, fighting with Tig. Scrubbing his face and trying to check his frustration, Happy considered just going back to bed, but ended up trekking down the hall anyway.
"Ow! You fucking dick, Tigger!" She whisper yelled, and he heard Tig laughing maniacally. Seconds later Tig let out a decidedly unmanly shriek and the distinct sound of a dish towel snapping followed.
"You're burning the goddamn bacon!" Tig accused, as Happy came around the corner. He tilted his head to one side, eyes squinted against the light, trying to figure out what in the fuck they were up to.
"I'm not burning anything, the bacon was supposed to your job." Ace shot back, aiming a kick at Tig's ankle.
"Well I can't fucking cook the bacon if you won't move your fat ass, sunshine." Tig was griping as he pulled the pan off of the stove. He saw Hap in the doorway then and nodded to him. Ace spun around, dismayed.
"Oh, you're not supposed to be up." She pouted, looking genuinely distressed. "I was going to bring you breakfast."
"Woke up alone." He grunted, grabbing her and pulling her in against him, she was warm from cooking and he nuzzled his face into her hair. "I hate that shit."
"I'm sorry. I wanted to wake you up with breakfast, but apparently not so much." She sighed, and grabbed a plate, shoving it at him. "Get some food anyway. The bacon's a little on the crispy side, Tig burned it."
"I wouldn't have burned the fucking bacon if your batshit crazy ol' lady hadn't been attacking me with a dish towel." Tig complained, a piece of crispy bacon hanging from the corner of his mouth.
Happy didn't say anything, just loaded up the plate with food for him and Ace, and dragged her along into the dimly lit clubhouse behind him. He set the plate down on a table and pulled the chair out, settling Ace sideways on his knee.
"We could've just eaten in the kitchen." She told him amused, and he shoved a piece of the burned bacon into her mouth.
"Nope. Prospects will be in there soon making breakfast for everyone else; don't want you caught up in that." He told her and started in on the eggs, shoveling a bite into her mouth for every two he took. Eventually she stopped opening her mouth for him, sliding down a little to rest her head in the perfect nook between his shoulder and his neck. When he'd finished the plate, he swept her legs over his other knee, too and just held her for a minute while he smoked. The warm weight of her against him was soothing.
"Thanks for breakfast, baby." He finally said, and kissed her forehead.
"Anytime, big man." She grinned up at him and he kissed her again, for good measure. Then he stood them both up, setting her gently on her feet, even though he'd considered carrying her back to the room.
"I gotta pack up my shit for the ride." He explained, and she nodded, the smile fading from her face. She followed him back, and watched for a minute while he packed, but it was making her nervous, so she went to the bathroom to start the shower instead.
She'd been standing under the hot water for a while when he appeared on the other side of the glass. Instead of getting naked and climbing in, though, he just slid the door open and watched for a few seconds.
"I'm going down. Come outside when you're done, I want to talk to you before everyone's milling around." He told her, and grabbed her wrist so he could pull her close enough to kiss again.
"Ok, give me ten and I'll be down." She agreed, shrugging half heartedly. He hated that she was starting to shut down on him, and he halfway wanted to climb in the shower with her and force her to engage with him, but he knew she needed this time alone so that she could put on a brave face when there were eyes on her, so he let her have it.
No Other Man Alive
Happy watched her from his Harley, right boot planted, left boot on his right peg. Her eyes were just the slightest bit red from crying, but her head was high and her shoulders back. There were a handful of Sons scattered around the lot, packing up saddlebags or adjusting something or other on their Harleys, so Happy turned his own bike on to lend a modicum of privacy to their conversation.
"C'mere." He told her when she was close enough to hear, and stood up, holding his hand out to her. She came willingly, sliding her hands inside his cut to wrap her arms around his waist. He leaned back against the chainlink fence, bringing her with him, so that she had to lean against him. "We're gonna be gone for a few days, I'll probably hole up somewhere for the day with Tig and ride to Ma's on the third day."
"Ok." She shrugged slightly, and he ran his hands up and down her back.
"Nova and Bulldog are on their way down from Canada right now, they should be here before noon. Nova's gonna ride down to Ma's with you. He's gonna need to sleep for a few hours, but then let him drive the rest of the way. He'll stay with you until I get there, ok?"
"Am I allowed to talk to him this time?" She asked, a mischievous smile on her face, and he rolled his eyes at her, but was also relieved that she was joking with him.
"Phone." He said, putting it in her hand. "You're gonna keep it on and with you the entire time."
"Yes, Daddy." She smirked, and he glared at her.
"Not funny, Ace. Gun." He tucked it into the back of her jeans. "You're carrying every single goddamn second between now and when I come for you. If I find out that it is ever more than 6 inches from you, I'm gonna solder it to your hand, got it?"
"You're such a romantic, big man." Ace grinned cheekily and he gave in and kissed her. "I promise I'll be good and carry at all times."
"Thank you." He told her, and watched her face soften. "I'm not trying to be a dick, but I can't worry about you and handle this at the same time."
"I know. I won't make you worry about me, Happy." She told him, and compulsively tightened her hold on him, ducking her face down against his chest. "Just promise me you'll try to keep yourself whole, too."
"Hey." He grabbed her chin, so that she didn't have any choice but to meet his eyes. Hers were filled with all the fear and anxiety he'd known she was hiding from him. "Ain't nothing gonna happen to me. I even brought my vest, if that makes you feel better."
"Yeah it does. Thanks." She whispered, and he bent to kiss her, very thoroughly.
"I'm not nearly through with you, yet." He growled against her mouth. "So don't worry, I'm coming back for you."
"OK. I love you, big man." She told him, and hugged him hard. He held her for another minute as he watched bikes and cars begin to roll onto the lot.
"I love you, too, crazy Ace." He said and pushed them both upright, ending their private goodbye.
"I'm going to go start bringing my stuff down." Ace told him, holding her hand out for the truck key.
"Sounds good. Get a Prospect to help you with the heavy shit, you're not supposed to be lifting much."
No Other Man Alive
Ace sat on the tailgate of the truck, watching Tacoma's men and their Old Ladies milling about, making the final preparations to leave. Cat and Bowie were off to one side, having a tense discussion from the looks of things. Ace felt pretty certain that she knew what they were arguing about, because neither one was being very subtle about their glances in her direction. Tig and Happy were standing together, too, heads bent close and on this, Ace did wonder what was being discussed. Her two Nomads played their cards very close, though, so unless one of them decided to let her in on it, she'd just have to keep wondering. Bowie parted ways with his Old Lady with a perfunctory kiss, and headed for his Harley, which seemed to be a signal to everyone else. Tig and Happy both headed in her direction, and Kozik saluted her with a grin before he mounted up.
Tig stood back while Happy came up to her. They'd already said their real goodbyes earlier, this was just a last, tiny check in. He pulled her forward to the edge of the tailgate and stood between her legs. He traced the curve of her jaw with the back of his hand and then leaned forward and kissed her hard. As quick as that, it was over, and they stared at each other for a long moment, words completely unnecessary. Finally, he took her face between his hands and kissed her forehead, then walked away without a backward glance.
"You alright, dollface?" Tig asked her, hopping up next to her to watch Happy's retreat.
"You'll keep him safe for me, right?" Ace asked quietly, her voice small, but calm.
"He'll be fine. Hap's been through too much shit for you, he's not gonna catch a bullet now and end it. Quit being a pussy and get your chin up." Tig told her, but his voice was gentle. "And for fuck's sake, don't forget to eat."
Tig hopped down, and lifted her down, too. He hugged her with one arm and ruffled her hair. He started across the lot to join Happy and Ace caught his arm. "Watch his back."
"Watch yours. We'll be fine." He shot back, grinning, and shook her off.
The Old Ladies were all loosely bunched together, now, hanging out near the picnic tables, watching their men queue up. Ace felt completely comfortable standing apart from them. This wasn't their charter, and these weren't her people, and wandering over to them wasn't going to change the score. She watched the line of Harleys leave the lot, knowing that Happy wouldn't look back, but hoping anyway. When they were out of sight, and out of earshot, the Old Lady brigade started to break apart, getting in their cars and heading home or to jobs or to volunteer with the PTO for all she knew. The exception was Cat, who had planted herself at the bottom of the stairs, glaring in Ace's direction.
"Seriously?" Ace huffed and waited until the lot had cleared out. She had no intention of engaging with Tacoma's head bitch, but if she lost her cool, it would be best if there wasn't an audience. When the last car pulled out, Ace crossed the lot quickly, stopping in front of Cat, boots planted. As usual, Cat was dressed impeccably, hair and makeup perfect and staggering bitch heels. If she hadn't witnessed the awful, stilted goodbye between Cat and her old man, Ace might have been intimidated by the show that Cat consistently put on. But, all she felt was pity, because even though she'd been beaten at her own game, the queen wasn't retiring gracefully. "Did you want to say something to me?"
"You should be ashamed." Cat told her, crossing her arms, hip popped out to the side.
"Oh? And why is that?" Ace inquired, all icy courtesy.
"You cost this charter a really valuable asset with your little games." Cat scolded her, like she was five year old again and in the principal's office.
"I cost Tacoma an asset?" Ace snorted, laughing, and she held up a hand until she got herself under control again, wiping under her eyes. "Oh God, I'm sorry, but that's just rich. First of all, Cat, you screwed yourself on that one, I didn't do anything but give you room to hang yourself. And Happy's not an asset, he's a human being who makes his own decisions. He's so much more than what he can do for the club, but in all the years you've known him, apparently you've never bothered to find that out."
"Do you really think he's going to give up the charter he's been calling home for 15 years for some new piece of pussy?" Cat hissed, her impenetrable façade beginning to crack.
"Do you know what my earliest memory is?" Ace asked. "It was Happy, making me a sandwich for lunch. I was two. Trust me, none of this is about pussy for him, and I didn't ask him to give up Tacoma for good, just for as long as you're here; so if you really think that him being here is best for the club, then you can always leave." Ace glided past her to the stairs and paused, waiting for a response that wasn't going to come. Cat just walked away toward her car and Ace smirked. "Yeah, that's what I thought, bitch."
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