Aoife was dead on her feet. As they walked towards the hospital exit, Chibs pulled her close and asked, "so how was spending the evening with Gemma and Luann?"

Aoife yawned. "Fine. Gemma was a little on edge, and I got to see her nearly rip a surgeon's face off." She stifled another yawn.

"Woman about your age, straight dark hair?" Chibs asked.

"Aye, that fits the description. She was one of the docs who operated on Abel."

The automatic doors whooshed open. "That, my lovely lass, is Tara, Jax's high school sweetheart. She high-tailed it out of this town right after high school and broke Jax's heart. Mama bear's still a little upset about her cub getting hurt."

"Ah," murmured Aoife sleepily. "That would explain why they nearly clawed each other's eyes out."

They arrived at Chibs' bike. "Are ye awake enough to ride, lass?"

"I'll manage," Aoife assured him, fastening her helmet and sliding onto the seat behind him. When they arrived home, he practically carried her up the stairs to the apartment. She dropped her clothes on the floor instead of in the hamper and was under the covers, snoring quietly, before Chibs finished his shower. Chibs checked all the locks with just the towel around his waist and flicked off the lights. Hanging his towel over the rack on the door, he slid between the sheets and curled up behind Aoife. Even in sleep, she immediately relaxed into his arms. He fell asleep with his arm resting protectively across her belly.

At about 2 am, Chibs woke up to a hand in the face. He opened his eyes and saw that at some point, Aoife had slipped out from under his arm and was now lying flat on her back, flailing and crying in her sleep. The only word he could make out was "no," repeated over and over. He gripped her wrist gently but firmly and pulled her to his chest, whispering. "Shh, a chuisle, you're alright." She started at his touch, and he continued. "You're safe. You're here with Chibs, love. I'll keep you safe." He stroked her hair, and finally she quieted, never waking up. Chibs put his hands together behind her back so that he could keep her close. She stirred a few more times overnight, never as much as she had that first time, but Chibs' senses remained on alert for her movements and he didn't get much more sleep.

The next morning, Aoife was a little groggier than usual, but she still reacted enthusiastically to Chibs' kisses and they made love before getting in the shower. Chibs waited until they were dressing before he brought up the topic. "Were you having nightmares last night, a chuisle?"

Aoife became very interested in her jewelry box sitting on the dresser. "Why do you ask?"

Chibs came up behind her and put his arms around her waist. Leaning down to rest his chin on her shoulder, he said, "You were moving around a lot and talking in your sleep." Aoife's cheeks burned, and she just stared down at the green velvet lining of the box. "You don't have to be embarrassed." He squeezed her tighter and kissed her neck and then dropped the subject. "I'm going to be busy for a few days, but I'll pick you up for family dinner Sunday afternoon, aye?"

"Aye," Aoife looked at him in the mirror and smiled a little, but Chibs could see the worry lines around her tired eyes.

"Tá grá agam duit," he whispered as he nibbled on her ear.

Chibs ripped open the suitcase and duffel bag from the Impala as soon as he got back. The suitcase yielded nothing of interest, and he dug into the duffel. The cell phone was dead, and he rummaged until he found a charger. There was also a camera, an atlas, and a brown expanding file. He dumped the file on his bed and began picking through it. There was a green steno pad half-filled with scrawled locations, names, and phone numbers. Chibs opened an envelope and felt a knot form in his stomach. A chill ran through him as he flipped through dozens of candid photos of Aoife. Based on the presence of her brother Thomas and father in some of them, the photos dated back further than he would have expected. Someone had been watching Aoife and her family for a long time. Chibs shuffled through the photos a second time, relieved that none of them appeared to have been taken since she arrived in Charming.

"Yo, man, we got church!" Tig thumped on the door with his fist as he walked down the hall. Chibs shoved the files back in the duffel bag and stashed it under his bed. He could catch Juice after church and give him the phone and camera.

"Doing better today?" Chibs asked of Jax as the VP passed the joint to him, keeping the other hand on the steering wheel.

"Yeah. It looks like my little guy is going to make it. They're going to keep him in the toaster a little longer, but Tara said he's out of the woods." Jax's face broke into a genuine smile.

"That's fucking fantastic news, Jackie," Chibs said enthusiastically.

"You've been in a good mood, yourself, Chibs. Aoife still treating you well?"

"Oh, aye." Chibs let the shit-eating grin on his face do the talking.

"My mom likes her," Jax commented. "Now that's saying something."

"I wouldn't believe it if I hadn't seen it with my own damn eyes," Chibs agreed. "Remind me when we get back, Jackie. I want to send her some flowers. She's seemed down the past few days. Been a little on edge."

Jax took the smoke back and gestured with it. "Call right now. Marion knows you're good for it. She'll let you settle up the bill later." Chibs hesitated. "I'm not saying this to fuck with you. Call and order the damn flowers. I won't tell anyone else in the Club about the pussy side of Chibs." With that, Chibs punched Jax in the arm. "Fuck, Chibs, I'm driving. I won't tell anyone about the soft side of our badass Scottish biker." Chibs jabbed his upper arm again. "Fine, jackass, the romantic side." Chibs smirked and dialed the florist, arranging for a delivery for Aoife.

Chibs jerked awake as something brushed his shoulder. He blinked up at Piney's back as the man continued past him. Chibs rolled his head to one side, verifying that he was passed out, fully dressed, on one of the sofas in the club house. He sat up and groaned, cradling his head in his hands. Not only did his head hurt, but he had an awful crick in his neck from slumping on the couch.

"Hey, look, the zombie biker's awake!" Juice yelled from the bar. Chibs glanced over and saw a half-finished beer bottle on the end table and reached for it. The glass was room temperature, but he vaguely recollected it being frosty when he'd started drinking.

"Shit, how long have I been asleep?" Before anyone answered, he looked out the windows and saw afternoon shadows. "Fuck." He had meant to get over to the coffee shop while it was still open. At his best guess, it had been closed at least a half hour. He stood up from his place on the couch, grateful he hadn't gotten too grungy earlier in the day, and made a beeline for the door.

"See you at dinner?" Tig asked.

"Aye," Chibs turned as he got to the door and gave a little salute.

Chibs knew he was breaking traffic laws, but he couldn't bring himself to care. He just wanted a few minutes alone with Aoife before the wonderful craziness that was a family dinner.

Chibs could see movement behind the coffee shop blinds. His key worked in the door, but it seemed appropriate to knock since Aoife was right inside. He tapped on the glass of the front door and it swung inward seconds later. He locked up behind him and faced Aoife. He leaned forward for a kiss and instead felt a sharp sting on his cheek as she slapped him. Her eyes were stormy and her mouth was set in a hard line. "I was worried about you, you bastard!" Chibs blinked and touched his cheek in surprise. "Don't give me that look, Chibs. I told you to let me know when you're back safe, and you didn't. I've been worried sick about you. I heard about that murder in the convenience store and that the shopkeeper said there were bikers involved and they haven't released the victim's name and I texted you and you didn't answer me." When she finished the rushed, run-on sentence, Aoife whirled on her heel and stomped into the kitchen without another word. Still in shock, he listened to her running dishwater. He started out angry at her for slapping him, but after reviewing the time since he'd seen her, he also felt like shit. She was right. He hadn't texted or called in nearly two days, after she had pointedly asked him to assure her he was okay on multiple occasions.

Aoife was standing at the industrial sink, her hands gripping the sides so hard her knuckles were white. Chibs spoke as he approached her. "I owe you an apology, lass. There's no excuse for leaving you hanging like I did. I'm just not used to having anyone outside the club worry about me. I should have called you or texted you." He stopped a foot behind her. She hadn't turned yet, and Chibs' heart was in his throat. "Aoife?" he asked. Her shoulders began to shake with sobs. Chibs closed the distance and wrapped his arms around her. His eyes stung with tears. He had really fucked this one up. "I am so sorry, lass."

Aoife's body-racking weeping slowed, and her hands found his. "Chibs, let me face you." He loosened his hold just enough to let her turn, but as soon as she did, she threw her arms around his neck and buried her face in his neck. "I'm sorry about how I handled that."

"I should have texted or something," Chibs shook his head. He wasn't going to let her blame herself.

"Today is the anniversary of my brother Colin's death. He was killed when one of his own bombs went off. The identification took days. The waiting was almost worst than the grief. When my husband and my Da each died, we spent hour after nerve-wrecking hour worrying why they weren't coming home. I thought I could handle you being gone, and I was doing ok until I hadn't heard from you by 11 today. And then it was like I was reliving those moments. At noon, I locked myself in the bathroom and had a full-blown panic attack. I was so sure that any moment, someone was going to walk through the door and tell me you were dead. I know that's not rational, but that's how I felt."

"I am so sorry." Chibs repeated. Silent tears fell down his cheeks, a mixture of contrition, sympathy, and love. He hated that he had caused her any pain, and anger burned that she had suffered so much at others' hands. She cared so much about him. He had to figure out a way to help her deal with the club because he knew it would shatter his fragile heart to let her go. He held her close until they both had stopped crying. "Okay, my lovely lass, this is what we're going to do." He gently pushed her far enough away that he could look into her red-rimmed eyes. "I am going to do my very best to be less of a right bastard. I'll let you know when to expect me back and I'll text or call first thing. Or maybe just show up on your doorstep because I can't stand to be away from you a minute longer." That earned him a faint smile. "You're going to let me give Gemma your phone number so that if anything ever happens to delay us, she can reach you."

Aoife looked doubtful. "You're going to ask Gemma to do that?"

Chibs shook his head. She didn't know the Club life, he had to remember that. "No, Gemma already does that. I'm giving her your number so she can add you to her list. Trust me, Aoife. This is what I meant when I said the club is my family." Aoife's frown eased a little. "And, my fine lass, you're going to work on worrying about me a little less."

"But what you do is risky" Aoife insisted.

"What do you mean by that, love? I'm a mechanic and sometimes I provide security," he bluffed.

Aoife rolled her eyes. "Don't kid me, Chibs. You carry concealed every minute of the day." Chibs opened his mouth to ask how she knew, and she must have read his mind. "IRA kid, remember? You think I can't spot a concealed gun on you? You have at least two switchblades on you right now. You can't tell me that you need all that because you're a mechanic who moonlights as security. I hear about the club from customers all day long. My chest tightens up every time someone looks at me and asks if I'm with you, and I hear the whispers about me being with you. I know you're involved in things that are dangerous and probably illegal. I don't care about the illegal, but I damn well care about the dangerous, and I don't know who to trust around here. I can't handle losing someone else I care about again." Her last sentence came out as a plea.

Chibs stared at her, willing her to see in his gaze that she had nothing to worry about. "You have to trust me, Aoife. I've been doing this work all me life, and I've made it to this age." The concern for him was still in her eyes, and he caressed her cheek with his thumb. "I have more to come home to than I've had in over a decade. I will fight tooth and nail to come back to you. You know what I called you before I left the other day?"

Aoife smiled and blushed at the memory through her tears. "A chuisle mo chroí."

"You are. You've woken up this old, black heart." He tapped his hand on the left side of his chest. "I didn't think it would ever know love again. I've completely fallen for you, lass," Chibs admitted. His heart beat wildly as he whispered on her lips, "Tá mo chroí istigh ionat."

Aoife kissed him back, but then she pulled away. "If this is going to work, you need to promise me that we're not going to keep having this argument. I need to know that you're going to be better about this. My heart breaks every time I have to worry about whether you're safe." Chibs opened his mouth to reassure her, and she put a finger on his lips. "No. Don't swear it to me now. Go back to the clubhouse and think about it. I can't stay with you without this promise. I'll end up like my mother."

Two days later, Chibs was sitting out at one of the picnic tables, smoking and staring at the toes of his boots. He heard the sound of Jax's bike, but he didn't bother to look up. The picnic bench seat bowed a little under Jax's weight. "Hey, Chibs." The VP lit up a cigarette. "You've been a miserable bastard. I mean, more than even is usual for you." Chibs smirked but said nothing. "What's eating you, Chibs?"

"With all the shit going on, you don't need to worry about me, Jackie."

"Gives me something else to think about, bro. So talk to me." Jax passed the cigarette to Chibs, who took a drag. "Does it have anything to do with Aoife missing dinner?"

"Aoife freaked out on me before dinner." Chibs admitted. "That's why she didn't come."

"Why?"

"Because she didn't know I was safe. I fucked up, Jackie-boy. I didn't call. I didn't text. She heard what happened at the convenience store and was afraid I might be involved and I didn't answer her messages, so she ended up convinced I was dead. I've been an ass. She's begged me to call or text to let her know I'm safe, and sometimes I've just been a passive-aggressive little bitch and not done it. She told me she's scared I'm going to get myself killed."

"What have you told her about the club?" Chibs blinked once at the seemingly rapid subject change.

"I haven't told her shit. I've done everything in my power to keep her safe and free of this, Jax. That lass doesn't need more trouble."

"I know this usually works the other way, Chibs, but I'm going to give you some advice. A wise man once said that there's only two ways an old lady makes it: first way, you tell her nothing. Second way, you tell her everything. Seems to me that not telling Aoife isn't working for you. To feel ok, she needs to know where you'll be and what you're doing."

Chibs looked up, trying to read the V.P.'s face. "You suggesting what I think you are, Jackie? You think I should tell Aoife about the MC?"

"She's your old lady in every way except getting the ink. She's good for you. I've never seen you so happy."

Chibs pulled another drag into his lungs and felt it burn before he spoke. He had done his best to stay out of this strange tug of war between the President and VP, but a choice like this might pull him right in. "I don't think our illustrious president would agree, Jackie-boy."

Jax shrugged. "Clay's not right about everything. This is your heart we're talking about. Seems you're the only one who can discern that truth." His cell phone beeped, and he walked away to answer it, patting Chibs' shoulder as he went by.

Chibs chain-smoked three more cigarettes while he sat there mulling over Jax's words. He didn't know shit about having an old lady. He never got the opportunity to offer it to Fi, not that she would have taken it if he had. He wanted Aoife to be his old lady so much that his chest tightened at the possibility she might reject his offer. Everything in his life was moving way too fucking fast. He was trying to ignore the persistent irritation in the back of his head that being his old lady was the most he could give her. Even though he would have vehemently denied it if asked, Chibs was already squelching daydreams of a life where Aoife could be his wife.

He'd spent his time thus far with his lass shielding her from the club life as much as possible, and all it had gotten him was angry words and an aching heart. Maybe Jax's "wise man" was right. His fight with Aoife had brought everything into stunning focus: anxiety was wearing Aoife down. She was tough as nails, but the combined stress of worrying about her remaining family, the IRA, and Chibs was a heavy weight for her to bear, and he hadn't been doing his part to lighten her load.

a chuisle - pulse

A chuisle mo chroí - pulse of my heart

Tá grá agam duit - I love you

Tá mo chroí istigh ionat - My heart is in you.