Ch 17

It had been 5 and a half months since the Ima incident and I had not seen or heard of her since. I had overheard Shayla (the croweater Matt took a liking to) and one of the CaraCara girls talking about Ima one day. The girl, whose name I never cared to learn, said that Ima was going to be out of work for about a month unless they did a jail house one where she is in a scene prior getting beat up. She said her face looked like she hit the pavement running. The doctors said she was possibly going to have a crooked nose because of where it broke. I smiled to myself, a broken nose was nothing to my suffering. She deserved every bit of her broken nose and bruised face. She was a horrible person, who asked for everything she got!

My car took two weeks to fix, the guys had to replace all the windows, mirrors that were on the outside of the car, and my lights. Then I had to take it to a body shop to get the damage to the body repaired. I was thankful that I was able to rent a car during that time period, I had wedding things to get done. It was nice to be out on my own again without an armed escort; however I guess I did miss the company when I was out and about. Phil tended to humor me when I asked which of two things I should get; which was nice of him. He was turning out to be my favorite prospect. He was like a giant teddy bear who needed to be hugged. I was bound and determined to find him a nice old lady.

Juice and my wedding was only a few weeks away, we were still fighting over the tuxedos or suits that I was aching to have the guys wear. I was even conceding on parts, they could wear their cuts too…I just wanted to see my fucking man in a suit instead of jeans and t-shirt for once in his life. Trinity and Kerri were going to be coming into town in a few days and I was so excited I felt like I was going to crawl out of my skin. I hadn't seen my best friends since the day I left Belfast, of course had talked them pretty much daily, but it wasn't the same. Trinity said she had been in touch with Tara and they were planning a bachelorette party for me. I wasn't really looking forward to it but it would help because I knew that the guys were going to go out the same night and it would take my mind off of that. I guess I was just happy that they would be in town for more than just the wedding. We had set up arrangements for them, Kerri would be staying with me because Chibs didn't think his house was good enough for his daughter and Trinity was going to be staying with Jax, Tara and the boys. Which meant I would have a house full of people from time to time, because there is no way Chibs wouldn't be over visiting and I know Trinity would be over as well. So I needed to stock up on groceries and overall household goods. I was busy thinking about everything that needed to be done I didn't even realize the person in front of me at the grocery store had stopped walking, I ran directly into them.

"Oh my god, I am so sorry." I announced loudly as the man turned around, it happened to be none other than Sheriff David Hale.

"Shit Kylee, you should have to have a license to drive a cart." He half teased and was half serious. He rubbed the back of his legs where I had hit him.

"I'm so sorry Sheriff Hale. I was thinking about the wedding and how much still needs to be done. I wasn't paying attention."

"I'll say." He laughed at me. Thank god he wasn't angry. "How are things going jail bird?" I had only seen him out and about a few time since my arrest. He had always been very nice to me, today was the first time I had seen him out of his police uniform and he was wearing a pair of dark blue jeans, a dark gray t-shirt and a pair of black sneakers. He actually looked like a normal civilian. It was nice to see that.

"They're going. I have been crazy busy with planning the wedding, Juice of course is no help at all other than to try and veto things." I rolled my eyes thinking about how he keeps veto the suits. The one thing I really want and he is saying no. Oh, a good many fights had come from that, he was being an asshole and fighting me tooth and nail. It wasn't like I was asking him to go stark ass naked to our wedding; although I think that he would prefer that. Men!

"We are rarely any help when it comes to planning stuff." Hale said with a smirk.

"Yeah, I am learning that!" I rolled my eyes.

He looked at my cart, "Please don't tell me you are cooking for your own wedding." My cart was close to overflowing with food.

I laughed and thought about how ridiculous that was. "No, my best friends will be in town, I am assuming I will have to host several dinners which means the club will be there too." I smiled. I couldn't wait for them to get into town, it was almost as excited about that as I was about my upcoming nuptials.

"Ah, well at least you will have more help." I looked at his meager basket of food.

"You know if we do end up having a barbeque you are more than welcome to come over for it. There will be plenty of food, well that is if Phil doesn't end up eating it all." I offered.

He looked at me uncomfortably, "Ah...I don't think that would be a good idea."

I laughed at him, "Fraternizing with the criminal element would look bad on your record would it."

He smiled, "Yeah something like that. Well I best be on my way, watch where you drive that thing." He pointed at the cart as he walked away. Then he turned back to me, "Oh and Kylee, best of luck to you and Juice."

"Thanks Sheriff Hale."

"David." I smiled at him when he told me his first name.

I finished my shopping trip which cost me an arm and a leg but the hell if I wouldn't be prepared for Trinity and Kerri's visit. Everything would be just right. They had never seen me in a state where I wasn't being controlled by Liam. Towards the end I was not even close to the girl they knew. I was broken. Thankfully I had an amazing fiancé who helped me put those pieces back together and make me whole again. I realized after the whole Ima thing that I had a lot of anger issues but they were mostly directed towards one person so if she stayed the fuck out of my way then life would be good.

My phone started to ring while I had my arms full of bags from the grocery store. I shuffled my bags and grabbed my phone out of my purse.

"Hey." I answered knowing it was Juice.

"Hey Baby, where are you?" It was nice to hear his voice.

"I am just leaving the grocery store. You aren't home by any chance are you?" I asked hoping he would be since I really did not want to carry in and put away everything that I bought.

There was a pause on the other end. "Actually I'm not, I am at the clubhouse. Why don't you stop by?" He suggested.

I sighed and I finished loading all the bags into my car. "I don't know." I said quietly. I had a lot of things to get done at home with the wedding coming up so quickly and my Belfast visitors "I have a lot of things to get done at home."

"Ah come on. I may have a surprise here for you." He tried to entice me.

"Jerk! You know I can't resist surprises. Is it any good?" I asked.

"I am going to say, yes it is good. So hurry up and bring the groceries home and get your lovely ass here." I could hear him smiling on the other line. If there was such a thing.

"Alright, but I am not staying long." I smiled as I turned down the street to our house. It was such a cute one story home. I had changed the outside slightly from when my brother owned it. I painted it a gray color with extremely light aqua blue shutters. I also put up a fence around the front yard, which of course was a white picket fence. Pretty much how I imagined my house would be when I grew up. The front of the house had hydrangea bushes that were currently flowering and smelt wonderful. I pulled into my driveway and parked my car. I loved my house so much. It meant a lot to me that Kip had left it for me. He was always so good to me when we were younger. I just wish he would have been around long enough to see me be happy and married. I knew that he would be there in spirit, the day Juice and I got married. I unloaded my car, it too me at three trips to get everything in the house. I decided since Juice wasn't home to help me unload the car, I would make him put away the stuff that didn't need to be refrigerated when he got home.

I pulled into Teller-Marrow's parking lot about fifteen minutes after I got off the phone with Juice. Nothing seemed exciting, Happy, Tig and Bobby were all sitting outside on one of the picnic tables. "Hello gentlemen." I said to them as I walked up to the club.

"You know it's not too late to have an affair." Tig piped in as I walked by.

"Oh I am sure that Juice would totally allow that…you know one last fling before the ring." I smirked, Tig was almost old enough to be my own father, which was totally gross but I humored him.

"You wouldn't go back to him after you had me, sweetheart." Tig continued.

"How do you know you could go back to the Croweaters after me?" I asked and then winked at him as I started into the club house.
When I walked in I didn't know what I was getting into; all I knew was that there was some sort of surprise waiting for me at the club house. Juice was sitting at one of the tables with Jax and Opie. I walked up from behind Juice, put my arms around him and kissed his neck, "Hey."

"Hi, you sure took your time getting here." He said to me. Seriously, I thought to myself

"Well…if I would have had some help getting all the stuff in the house and put away, I would have been here sooner." I stood up and looked at him, he was acting as if I wasn't super busy and stressed out enough by our upcoming nuptials. He looked at me and laughed he could tell I was getting upset.

"Do you want your surprise or not?" He asked me, Jax and Opie were both smirking. I frowned at them.

"I'm here, aren't I?" I replied.

His eyes flickered over my shoulder, "Turn around then."

I turned around and to find the most amazing and wonderful surprise ever….Trinity and Kerrianne were there. "OH MY GOD!" I ran to them and took them both into my arms. "What are you doing here? I thought you were coming in a few days." I could feel tears streaming down my face. I was so happy to have them in my arms, to touch them, to see them. I was just happy.

I looked back at Juice who was beaming happily. "Surprise!" I smiled at him, god I loved that man with all my heart. I didn't realize that I could love so deeply until I met him or that someone could love me the way he did.

"We got an earlier flight out, well Juice got us an earlier flight out." Trinity smiled she had grown her bangs out since the last time I saw her. But she looked exactly the same, long light blond-red hair color, happy greenish blue eyes. She stood slightly taller than me. "You look amazing, and happy. I can't remember the last time I saw you glowing like this, Ky."

I looked down at myself. I knew inside I was utterly happy and pretty much as peace with everything that had happened in the past. I had filled out a bit with muscle, since I was starting to train again and run, the two things that helped me with my anger. Nothing better than hitting the pavement or punching something to work out any aggression I had. "Thanks. You both look so wonderful." I had a broad smile on my face. Kerrianne, had cut her long dark chocolate brown hair, up to her shoulders it gave her hair more curl which I had always been envious when it came to hair. She was not wearing her usual jeans and t-shirt. She actually had on a cute low cut billowy one shouldered top in a lovely eggplant color and white capris. "What are you wearing?" I asked her it was so out of her comfort zone.

Kerri gave me a strange look, "What do you mean? Am I not supposed to wear clothes? Does it not look okay?" She started to fidget with her clothes.

"No you look beautiful. It's just I don't think I have ever seen you wearing anything other than jeans, t-shirt and that green jacket of yours." I said as I pulled them both over to the bar where Rat was working. "Three Jamesons, please." Rat nodded and went to go get our drinks. "I am so happy you are both here early!" I hugged them again. I hadn't grasped how much I had missed them until they were standing in front of me.

Juice came up from behind me and whispered in my ear, "So do you like your surprises?" I turned and looked at him and flung myself into his arms.

"This is the best surprise ever! Thank you!" I kissed him.

"Ladies, I will now return my beautiful bride to be to you." Juice smiled at them as he walked back to the table with Jax and Opie.

"He's good to you." Kerri smiled at me as Rat handed her a highball, and then did the same for Trinity and me.

"Thanks, Rat." I held up my glass to him as we walked over to one of the tables. "He is, isn't he? I never knew I could love someone like I love him. It was providence that we met. Because in all honesty he completes me. I have never known love like this before."

"Barf." Trinity joked. "So how is the wedding planning going?" She asked as we sat down.

I thought about how Juice and I had just argued about the suits again, really that I guess was the only glitch in the planning. "They are pretty much done, I am still working on convincing Juice that he would look HOT in a suit. He is not having any of it, but I will not stop until the day of the wedding." I took a drink out of my Jameson. It was so wonderful to have my two best friends with me again. "How long are you guys staying then?"

"We leave here a week after the wedding." Trinity took a sip of her whiskey. "I am assuming you will at least go away for a few days after the wedding."

I honestly hadn't thought about going on a honeymoon. There was just too much going on to think about that. "I hadn't thought about it. Honestly I have been too busy planning everything else."

"WHAT?" Trinity piped up her firey Irish temper was coming through, "Are you seriously telling me you are not going anywhere after the wedding?" She looked over at the table with Jax, Opie and Juice. "Are you not bringing our girl somewhere for a honeymoon?" She laid on Juice.

"Shit brother, I am glad I am not on the end of that temper." Jax smirked at Juice.

"Yeah, now I know where Ky, gets her temper." He said to Jax before turning to us. "I may have something planned." He was vague, "I figured Kylee would want to spend time with you and Kerrianne before you go home so I have something planned after you leave. It was a surprise but I guess it isn't anymore."

This was all a surprise to me, I smiled at Juice. I liked surprises, okay only good ones. Trinity gave me a look that told me she was sorry. I wrinkled my nose and shrugged my shoulders. "It's okay Trin. So did you guys get cute dresses?" I asked them changing the subject.

"I never thought you'd ask." Kerri got up and waved us to go with her. We went back to one of the apartments in the back of the clubhouse. Kerri grabbed a garment bag that was hanging on the bathroom door. She pulled out a beautiful one shouldered black dress that was knee length. "This is Trin's and this is mine…" She then took out a strapless black cocktail dress.

I stood there in awe for a few seconds thinking about how beautiful my friends would look in their dresses. "Oh my god, you are going to look so beautiful!" I was slightly teary eyed.

"So when do we get to see your dress?" Kerrianne asked.

"I have a fitting tomorrow if you would like to come with me." I smiled slyly. It was actually my final fitting before I would pick up my dress.

"Fuck yes!" Trinity smiled. "I cannot wait to see you in your dress, plus I need to get some shoes to go with my dress. Now let's go out there and show those fucking bikers how real Irish girls drink." I loved that she still considered me Irish. Over the months that I had been back in Charming, I had lost some of my Irish lilt. I had picked up more of an Americanize Irish accent.

"Shite, I don't think my da will be happy if I do that." Kerri said. Since when did she have a conscious about such things?

"Really Kerri?" I stared at her for a second as we walked out the door. "Your da and I have drank too much together far too many times…let's drink these guys under the tables." We walked out laughing and formulating our plan to drink the guys under the table.

We got out there and happy was sitting at one of the tables setting up his tattoo gun. He on occasion had been known to set up an impromptu tattoo session with the Sons. However he had his eyes on me. I sneered at him jokingly and he beckoned me with his finger. I shook my head as I made a beeline for the bar to join Kerri and Trinity. Rat smirked at us, "Ladies, what will it be?"

"Something strong for this one." I heard Happy's voice over my shoulder. I turned around and he picked me up and flung me over his shoulder. I let out a small squeak in surprise.

"Put me down Happy Lowman." I barked at him. He didn't obey until we were next to the table where he was setting up his tattoo machine. I stood there and looked at him, I hadn't asked him to tattoo me. "What?" I said with some belligerence behind my voice.

"Sit." He said sternly. I looked at him like he was crazy. "Sit…" he said again. "It's time for your ink."

"What?" I looked at him and then Juice who was staring at me and then raised his eye brows and smirked at me like a stupid little boy. "You have to be kidding me, your inking me for him." I looked over at Juice. "I thought I would at least get a say in what I am getting." I hadn't really thought about getting another tattoo, my last tattoo was a four leaf clover that was done when I moved to Ireland. I got it on my right hip bone. I never regretted it, it was my change of life, my first step towards my adulthood in Ireland.

"Sit." Happy commanded one more time. I sat down in the chair like a spoilt child. Happy pulled my left arm towards him. I looked at him nervously. "Get this girl a fucking shot, NOW!" He barked orders at someone.

Juice laughed at me. I flipped him off. "That's my girl." He said proudly.

"Do you trust my Ky?" Happy asked me looking me directly in the eyes.

I took a deep breath, I would trust him with my life but with my porcelain skin when I had say no say in it? "With my life…and my skin." I gave him weak smile as he wet down my wrist with water and placed the stencil on it. He gave me a wicked smile as he removed the stencil and revealed the tattoo that would be on my wrist for life. I gasped at what I saw, it was beautiful. Happy and Juice had sat down and designed a stunning tattoo for me. It meant more to me then I think either of them actually knew. The tattoo was of a cage and two crows flying away from it together. It was perfect.

"Say something." Juice startled me, I hadn't realized he was next to me.

I looked up at him and smiled. "It's perfect. Now let's see if this asshole can actually tattoo." I teased Happy.

"Careful Ky, I am the one with the tattoo gun and I could always give you a lovely face tattoo for your wedding gift." He turned his tattoo gun up towards my face.

I raised my eyebrows at him. "I would like to remind you I am a good aim and there are plenty of guns within my reach." Happy smirked at me as he started to tattoo my wrist. Trinity handed me a shot of something brown. I looked at her.

"James." She said, "Remember he is our friend, he has a son." She grinned at me, throwing me back to the first time I met her. She and I had always been kindred spirits. It was my first visit to Northern Ireland with Liam. He said he had to go to this biker party, it sounded shitty but I was willing to do it because I was going to be with him. He introduced me to a few of the clubs old ladies hoping they would welcome me with open arms, they saw me as competition for their men's attention. I was a spry, tight bodied 18 year old, who was exotic to them with my cute ass and American accent. It was Trinity, the fiery ginger, who welcomed me with open arms. We bonded over our friend, Jameson. Throughout our years of friendship, James was our best friend too. We drank a good many nights with that bottle and tonight would not change that. I took the shot quickly savoring the flavor that lingered in my mouth and on my lips. "Another?" Trinity asked. I nodded as I felt the twinge of pain from my wrist telling me something was going on.

I finished off three shots and a beer by the time Happy finished my tattoo. It was even more breathtaking than the stencil. Happy wiped off my arm and applied salve. "What do you think?"

"Happy…" was all I got out before I launched myself into him, hugging him. "Thank you." I whispered.

"Yeah." He smiled at me as I released him, "You should really thank that shit head over there because it was his idea for the design, and I just drew it." He pointed back at Juice.

I smiled at my handsome husband to be and walked over to him. "Thank you, baby." I said quietly to him. He looked at me longingly and took me into his arms.

"You're welcome." He whispered and kissed me.

~~A/N~~ Thank you all for being so patient while waiting for this chapter. I started a new job so life is a bit chaotic while I adjust. I will be working overnights which may lead to times when I can write more so you may get more chapters, but I am not sure yet.

Thank you again for you support!