...Chapter 3...

Fifteen minutes had passed, by the time Stephanie decided to walk out of Kozik's alleged room, and ignored the glares from Happy, then walked out, and over to the office. "Mom." she started. "Are you busy?"

"Not really." Gemma put some papers down in front of her. "What's going on? How are you feeling?"

Stephanie sat down in the empty chair. "I'm okay, I guess... I had a little nap."

Gemma sighed. "Something's bothering you, so how 'bout you tell me what it is."

"I don't know, Ma." she shrugged. "Just everything going on, it's just..."

"Overwelming?"

"Yeah."

"Steph, all you gotta do is take it one day at a time... it's gonna get better."

"But what if it doesn't." she paused, as tears started forming in her eyes. "What if none of it gets better and it all gets worse?"

"Baby, you know that your brother, Clay, and the rest of the guys will keep you safe."

"Ma, it's not just me to worry about."

Gemma grabbed one of Stephanie's hands and squeezed. "Look, this is my first grandbaby... you, he or she will be completely protected with all of us watching over you."

"Okay." she nodded, wiping her tears away, with her free hand.

"Can I ask you a question?"

"What?"

"Who's the father of the baby?"

"He, uh, took off... which is fine, because I don't need him."

A few minutes later, Crystal walked into the office. "Hey Gem." her eyes widened. "Oh, my God... Steph! You're home?" she gave her a hug. "Jax didn't even tell me."

"Yeah." Stephanie nodded, letting go. "I came home early this morning."

"Is everything okay?"

"For the most part."

"Hey." Gemma started. "How 'bout you call up Cass, Katie, and Lyns... go shopping or something and Steph, you can surprise them."

"What about work?"

"It's fine, Crys... I got it covered for today. Now, go have fun."

"Thanks, Gemma." Crystal smiled, then looked at Stephanie. "Let's go."

"See you later, Ma."

"Bye, Baby... bye, Crys." Gemma waved, then they walked out of the office.

Stephanie stretched her arms. "I gotta grab my purse."

"Okay." Crystal nodded, then laughed. "And I'm gonna yell at Jax for not telling me that you were here."

"Have fun with that." Stephanie chuckled as both of them walked into the clubhouse. Crystal walked over to Jax, who was sitting at the bar, then Stephanie went back into Kozik's room. After she grabbed her purse and was about to walk out, Happy was standing in the doorway, blocking her. "What?" she sighed. "I gotta go... Crys, the girls, and I are going shopping."

"I just wanna know why Kozik was about to switch charters, but then after he talks to you, he bolts out of here... what the hell, Steph?"

She crossed her arms over her chest. "What do you want me to say, Hap?"

"Look." he shut the door behind him and leaned up against it. "I'm probably the only one that knows about you two... and I wanna know what you said to him."

Stephanie took a deep breath. "I told Kozik to go back to Tacoma, where he belongs, and obviously, he did."

"Why?"

"I told him that we didn't need him."

"Who exactly is we?"

"When I meant we, I was talking about the club."

"It's not up to you, Steph, and you know that... you can't make any club decisions." he shook his head. "You ain't got a cut, not only that, you're just a woman."

"Yeah, I know."

Happy put his hand on the doorknob, ready to walk out. "Steph, you may not realize it or not, but I know my best friend, and I know he cares a lot about you... yes, he's made some mistakes, but who hasn't? Nobody's fucking perfect... but damn, you're like a little sister to me and I love the hell out of you, but it ain't right putting me in the middle of yours and Kozik's bullshit."

"You're right." Stephanie nodded. "And I'm sorry."

Seconds later, both of them heard a knock on the door, followed by Crystal's voice. "Hey, Steph, you ready to go?"

"She'll be out in a minute!" Happy yelled.

"Uh, okay... I'll be waiting by the bar."

Happy turned his attention back to Stephanie. "If Kozik doesn't come back, you know Clay and Jax will be pissed, and you also know if they find out what you and Kozik had, all hell will break loose... because you know they'll want the absolute truth as to why he took off."

"I know." she sighed.

"Do you love him?"

"What?"

"It's a simple question... do you love the man or not?"

"I don't know, Hap, I thought I did."

"Steph." he groaned. "It's a yes or no question... Do. You. Love. Him?"

She slowly nodded and took a deep breath. "Yes, with all my heart."

"That's what I thought... so when he comes back, you two are gonna sit down, and fix this shit." he got into her face. "You got it?"

"Hap, it's not that simple."

"And why not?"

"How the hell am I supposed to trust him after what he did?"

"I don't know, that's why you talk about it, and work it all out." she just groaned, shaking her head. "You know, nobody else knows this, but the whole time you were gone, Kozik was a mess and he felt like the biggest asshole in the world for hurting you... don't you think he's suffered enough?"

Stephanie raised her eyebrow. "Okay, Dr. Phil... I'll think about it."

Happy frowned. "I ain't no Dr. Phil."

"Fine." she chuckled. "Dr. Happy."

"You're such a brat." he cracked a smile, then gave Stephanie a hug. "I'll be headed to Tacoma and talk to Saul, about staying here, instead of staying there for a week, so I can stay with the club, and protect you."

"Okay." she nodded, letting go.

"And I'm bringing Kozik back."

"All right." she sighed. "If you must, I mean, it's not like I got a choice."

"Nope, you don't." Happy smirked, then opened the door. "Stay out of trouble, while your out shopping, and I'll see you in a few days."

"Yeah, yeah." she waved her arm, dismissively, then both of them walked out of the room, and over to the bar.

"Is everything okay?" Crystal asked, taking a sip of her water.

"Yep... ready to go?"

"Yeah." she got up from the bar stool. "Katie, Cass, and Lyns are meeting us at the mall in Stockton, but they have no idea about you."

"Awesome." Stephanie nodded, then punched Jax in the arm. "See ya."

He chuckled, then gave Crystal a kiss. "See you later." he looked over at Half Sack. "You're going with them... where ever they go, you go." Half Sack just nodded. "Anything happens, you call me."

"Got it." he said, giving Jax a thumbs up, then followed Crystal and Stephanie out to Crystal's car.

As they were about to get in, Juice jogged up to them. "Hold up... Jax told me to come with you too."

"Okay, come on." Stephanie said, then her and Crystal got into the car, and drove off with Half Sack and Juice behind them.

The girls were hanging outside, on a bench, enjoying the cool breeze, when Katie took a sip of her soda. "I wish Crys would hurry up, she said that Gemma gave her the day off, because she has a surprise for us."

"I wonder what it is."

"Don't know, Lyns." Cassie shrugged. "But I think it had something to do as to why Chibs got called into church at the ass crack of dawn."

"Yeah." Katie nodded. "Tig and I got interrupted... and let's just say, I wasn't a happy camper."

Lyndsey and Cassie laughed out loud, then Cassie happened to look up. "Crys is here with Sack and Juice... and she has someone in her car."

The three of them watch Crystal park, then when they saw the person get out of the passenger seat, their jaws dropped to the ground. "Holy shit!" Lyndsey yelled. "It's Stephanie!"

All three of them got up and ran over to her, giving Stephanie a group hug. "Yeah, I missed you guys too." she chuckled, letting go of them.

"Where the hell have you been?" asked Katie.

"Down in San Diego."

"Why?"

Stephanie looked at Cassie. "I'll tell you guys later, right now... we're shopping till we drop."

Katie went up to Juice and Half Sack with a grin on her face. "And you two willingly agreed to shop with us girls?"

"We really didn't have a choice." Half Sack shook his head.

"Yeah." Juice groaned. "V.P's orders."

"Ha-ha." Cassie laughed. "Suckers."

"Yeah, whatever." Juice waved his arm. "Let's get this shit over with."

"Okay, you big babies!" Stephanie laughed, then all of them walked inside the mall.