Disclaimer: I don't own Sons of Anarchy or any of the characters, it all belongs to Kurt Sutter.

I am really, really sorry to keep you waiting. Holiday season sucks when it's not you on holiday, tends to keep my very busy work schedule even more hectic. I'm especially sorry that I kept all my reviewers waiting for my reply to the reviews and I hope I haven't forgotten anyone. If I have, you have my sincerest apologies.

Thank you also for all the favs and alerts, both to the story and to me as a writer (that makes me blush every time it happens!)

Hopefully you won't have to wait for the next chapter, but I'm not making any promises. My vacation is coming up though and I'm planning on just writing for the first week!

Chapter 22: I'm very safety conscious

When Ava walked through the doors to Grace's school she realized that she was holding her breath and exhaled. They wouldn't have let anyone they didn't know pick up Grace and it wouldn't have been enough time for anyone else to do that anyway.

When she found Grace's teacher she explained the situation and that she didn't want Grace in school until it all this had been resolved.

"So she needs some time off." She finished and was relieved when the teacher nodded and put a hand on her arm.

"It's not a problem. I'll put some homework together and the semester is soon over anyway. She's not missing much."

"Thank you."

She went into the classroom and got found Grace next to Peter, their heads close together as they read a book. When Grace noticed her she smiled but looked slightly confused.

"Mom, why are you here?"

"You're taking a few days off. I thought you could go and visit Clark."

Grace studier her and then nodded. She turned around and gave Peter a hug before picking her bag up. They waited a while as the teacher put Grace's homework together. None of them said anything.

As they walked towards the car Ava stopped, turned Grace around and kneeled down in front of her.

"Ask me." She said. Ava knew that Grace was wondering and it was better if she asked what it was the bothered her the most rather that Ava starting to blurt out things Grace didn't care about. Kids worried about different things that adults.

"Why?" Grace said without looking at her.

"Your dad's parents are here. I'm not sure exactly what they are up too but they want to meet you and I don't want them to."

"I don't want to meet them. I already have two grandmas and loads of uncles."

"What?"

"I have Marianne and Gemma and all of the other guys. I don't need more family. I don't want his family." Grace said the word 'his' as if it was a curse word.

"I know and it's better if you're in New York with Clark while I sort this out." She hugged Grace. "You don't have to worry at all. I promise you. You know I'm quite smart, right?"

"You are."

"And you know I'm good a planning. We've always had a way out, right?"

"Yes."

"And I've been expecting this."

"You have a plan?" Grace leaned back and looked at her.

"I sure do. So no worrying, ok? But if there's anything you want to know ask me instead of worrying about it."

"Ok." Grace gave her a kiss. "You're the best mom, ever!"

"And you're the best daughter, ever!" She hugged her and they went over to the car.

-o0o-

Happy was wondering where the fuck Ava was, it had been almost an hour since he called. That's when he remembered that he didn't call. She did. She never called during work. And he hadn't even thought about asking her why she called. He was not good at this shit.

By the time the car stopped at the lot he was pissed and confused. To add to his confusion; Grace came running and he picked her up, she should still be in school. She hugged him really tight, something was definitely fucked up.

"What's going on?" He asked when Ava came walking. He did take time to notice how fucking hot she looked, she had his favorite dress on.

"Grace, go into the clubhouse and see if Bobby's got something for you." Ava smiled but it didn't reach her eyes. This wasn't good.

"Tell me!" He said as soon as Grace was out of earshot.

"Jonah's parents came to see me today."

Only the fact that he wanted to hear more stopped him from getting on the bike to go and find them and introduce them to their fuckface son.

"And?"

"They want visitation right. At least that's what they said." She put her arms around his waist. "Don't worry. I've got this covered. I just don't want them to 'accidentally' run into Grace."

He hugged her tighter and gave her a kiss. "I'm still worried."

"Please, just focus on this Abel-thing. Trust me." She kissed his chin. "I'll explain everything tonight."

She seemed calm on the outside but he noticed the slight panic in her eyes. Before he could ask more questions, they were interrupted by Clay.

"Ava! Thanks for coming."

Ava let go of him but he kept his arm around her shoulders. "No problem."

"Come on, let's have a talk." They walked into the Chapel and Happy was extremely glad that she was his Old Lady, he wanted to be with her for this. "We've come over some HIV-drugs and need to sell them. We're short on cash and we need money." Clay explained.

"Ok?" Ava said and sounded confused.

"I wondered if you might know somewhere to sell them?"

"Oh!" She smiled. "I'll make some calls but honestly; most of them don't have money. Their medication is usually donated. But I'll see what I can do." She shrugged. "They might be able to tell me someone who would buy it at least."

"All I ask for." Clay said and then looked up at Happy. "Did you tell her the good news?"

He smiled and watched Ava's confused face. "What news?"

"I'm a member of Redwood Originals."

"Wow!" She gave him a hug.

"So now you're going to have to sow the new patches on my cut." He added.

She suddenly froze up. "What?" She looked at Clay and then back at him. "I can't sow."

"You didn't make sure she could do that before inking her?" Clay shook his head and they started walking outside.

Happy noticed Grace in a conversation with Bobby and Tig so he pulled Ava towards his dorm. He wasn't really prepared to wait for all the info until later that night. He pushed her against the dresser with one arm on each side of her waist, leaning against it.

"What's the plan?"

She pulled up his t-shirt and stroke his back before placing that perfect fucking ass on the dresser. "Focus on Abel, don't worry about this." She mumbled against his lips. He ran his hand along her thigh until he reached her tattoo.

"This here." he stroke the ink, looking straight into her eyes. "Means that Grace is my kid and I'm going to look after her. So I'm worried."

Ava put her arms around his neck. "She's been my kid for six years and I've prepared for something like this the entire time." She wrapped her leg around his ass and he was getting hard. "Don't worry."

Happy was trying to decide on whether he should keep pushing on the plan or just pull down her underwear when there was a knock on the door.

"We need to go to the hospital." Tig yelled.

"We're finishing this later." Happy said and gave her a final kiss.

"The talk or the fuck?" He laughed and pulled in the waistline of her underwear.

"Both."

"So you're in this club now?" She said as she jumped down from the dresser.

"Yes." He opened the door and put his arm around Ava. "Not getting rid of me now."

"Did I ever had a chance to get rid of you?"

"No."

"Dang, I was going to make a final try."

He pushed her against the wall. "Say it!" She hadn't said it in a while and he wanted to hear it today. Most things were shit and he wanted to kill Jonah's parents so he needed to hear it. That might calm him down.

She put her arms around him and whispered in his ear. "I love you, Happy. Very much."

"I know."

-o0o-

Ava watched them drive off with Grace next to her.

"Tig and Kozik had a fight." Grace said when they walked to the car.

"Really?"

"Yes and Happy is in this Chapter now."

"I know, he told me." She took Grace's hand. "Do you know why they fought?"

"No, but they both had bruises and kept staring at each other."

There wasn't much that passed Grace. "I'm sure they'll be friends soon."

"Don't think so." She started skipping. "I promised Tig that I would always like him best."

"When?"

"When we were living here, with all the others."

"Oh."

"And I told them that Gemma had promised me a pink t-shirt." Grace laughed. "I don't think they liked that."

"Are you worried, honey?" Ava wanted to make sure that Grace wasn't too worried.

"Not much." Grace was climbing into the car. "When am I going to Clark?"

"I'm going to ask him to come and get you tomorrow."

"Think I'll meet anyone from the club in New York?"

"Probably, Clark work at their garage." Ava closed Grace's door and got into the car as well. "Happy or someone will probably call them and make sure they keep you safe."

"Ok."

"Let's just get home and call Clark and pack your things. I'll come and get you in New York in a couple of days."

"Can I bring my SOA t-shirts."

"Absolutely." Ava looked into the rearview mirror. Grace seemed ok and sending her away was a way of making sure that she would still be ok. She wouldn't have to see Ava worrying. Cause if she was still in Charming, Ava would worry. This gave her space to do what she needed to do and she would have to go to New York whether Grace was there or not.

-o0o-

"Another tough day?" She said when she put her arms around Happy's neck and kissed him in the hallway.

"Shit day. Wanna talk or fuck first?" He said and picked her up.

"Talk, then fuck to forget it."

"How about fuck, talk and then fuck." He lifted her up and started to carry her towards the bedroom.

"Ohhh, think you can do that?" She said as she wrapped her legs around him.

"Shut up bitch."

When she was holding him a while later he told her the short version of the day. The raid in the club house did at least mean that she didn't have to make any more calls about the HIV-drugs. She had called a couple of old contacts and they had given her some other names. She had told Happy but hadn't heard anything more than that. She assumed they had solved it some other way but didn't feel the need for any more details.

"Tell me about them?" Happy said into her hair.

"Eric and Mary?"

"Yes."

"They're old money. Very rich and Jonah could never do anything wrong as far as they were concerned. I was the white trash whore who lured him in for his money. They hated my guts from day one."

"Idiots!" He gave her a kiss.

"I'm not really sure what they're really after. Mary is stupid as fuck but Eric is smart. My guess is that he wants Grace to have lovely family pictures taken for his campaign."

"Campaign?"

"He's got political ambitions." She stroke Happy's cheek and head. He was in seriousl need of shave she noticed. "That's probably just part of it. They might just think I'm a lousy mom."

"What are their chances?"

"Here in California; pretty much none. They have no previous bond, Grace wouldn't know who they were even if they stood right in front of her."

"So what do you think?"

"Not sure, they might sue for custody."

"Fuck!" Happy said and rubbed his face. "Can they do that?"

"They have enough money to pretty much do what they want." She wrapped herself around him again. "Don't worry, I'm prepared for this."

"Why the fuck are you not worrying?" He seemed pissed all of a sudden. "They can cause you a shit load of troubles."

"Because I've read the law." She sighed. "Trust me, I'm prepared for this, I know them and I know how to handle them and what to do." She hugged him tighter. "You're going to Belfast soon, aren't you?"

"Yeah. Why?"

"I'm sending Grace up to New York to stay with Clark, just for a couple of days."

"You said there was nothing to worry about." He looked at her and she could see his brain working on overdrive. "Are you running?"

"No. Happy, I'm not running but she misses Clark and I need to fix things." She laid down on top of him. "I don't want her around and I want to make sure that they don't try to meet her 'by accident'. Happy, don't even think about this, I'm a smart bitch. And you're not getting rid of me." She smiled and kissed him. He grabbed her neck and kissed her hard.

"Just making sure you know that I would come after you." He finally said.

"Good to know." She put her nose to his neck. "Could you make sure that the club there look after her?"

"I thought you said that there was nothing to worry about."

"I'm very safety conscious." He flipped her around and stroke her behind.

"I'll make sure someone calls them. You need to keep me updated." She nodded and pulled him down. "How's the ink?"

"Itchy as hell."

He laughed. "No scratching."

"Guess you better keep me occupied."

-o0o-

Happy woke up when his phone rang and he managed to untangle himself from Ava.

"What!"

"We're at the table in an hour."

"Ok."

He turned and looked at Ava. Smart bitch, if she said she had it under control, she had it under control. When it came to Grace she never left anything to chance. He was still going to make sure that there was people keeping an eye on both his girls.

He kissed her neck. "Babe."

"Hmmm?"

"When's Clark coming?"

"Before noon." She said and put her arm around him. "I'll miss you."

"I know." He pinched her ass. "Get out of bed and make your Old Man some breakfast."

Her only reaction was laughing so he reached down and bit her at the same spot he just pinched.

"Are you nibbling on your ass?" She said while still laughing.

"It's a nice ass." He turned her around and looked at the crow, it was healing up. "Come on. I need to be at the club in an hour and I'd like to at least have breakfast today."

"What time are you leaving?"

"Tonight, I think. It'll probably be a busy day."

"Ok, make sure you say bye to Grace properly."

"I will." She finally seemed to be waking up.

"So what does the Old Man want for breakfast?" She said as she was stretching. That made him change his mind, if he didn't have time for breakfast at home Bobby had probably baked something at the clubhouse that he could eat.

"Take a shower with me."

"Are you trying to fuck me so sore I can't cheat on you?"

"More like trying to get my fill." He pulled her out of the bed and she followed him to the shower.

By the time Grace woke up Ava was making pancakes.

"When are you leaving?" Grace asked while stuffing her face with pancakes.

"Later."

"Can you call me so I can come and say goodbye?"

"You know I will, Sugar."

-o0o-

The door and her phone rang at the same time. She picked up the latter while opening the former. As she had suspected it was Clark by the door. She pointed at her phone and he nodded as he walked pass her to find Grace.

"Hallo."

"Hi, it's Tara, any chance you can meet me?"

"Something wrong?"

"Yes. Please, I need to talk to someone."

"Where are you?"

"I'm on my way home. Do you know where I live?"

"Yes. I'll be there as soon as possible." She hung up and looked at Clark who had Grace in his arms. "I'm sorry, something's up with Tara."

"Just go, Grace and I are going to pack cause she's staying with her uncle for a couple of days." He kissed Grace and she was beaming. So Ava got out and went to see what was up with Tara.

When Tara opened the door she looked pissed, upset and sad at the same time.

"What's up?"

"Found Ima in Jax's dorm this morning."

Ava stared at her for a few seconds. "God damn. I'm so sorry." She pushed Tara inside and closed the door. "What did he say?"

"Nothing." Tara walked ahead of her to the kitchen. "Not a fucking word, that fucking, lowlife, sorry excuse of a fucking man."

"You know why he's doing this, right?"

"I do. And he's off the fucking hook. I'm done with him."

"I'm not saying that you should forgive and forget, Tara." Ava sat down next to her. "Just... this is a bad situation all around, maybe you should wait until..."

"Until the worst is over."

"Yeah."

"I don't know Ava. I'm not going to force myself on someone who doesn't want me."

"You know that's not the case."

"I'm not so sure anymore." Tara got up and put two cups on the table. "What's this shit with Jonah's parents?" Seemed like Tara just wanted to talk to someone about anything so Ava sat down opposite her.

"It's nothing. They just hate me and I think they think that I know what happened with Jonah."

"Tell me." Tara said as she sat back down and Ava did. She would have other chances of talking about Jax.