Chibs rolled over and came face-to-face with empty air. He hauled himself out of bed and pulled on his jeans before padding down the hall barefoot to find his old lady. Aoife, clad only in her sapphire robe, was elbow deep in soapy water, washing dishes. Her dark curls were pulled up in a messy bun, leaving her porcelain neck exposed. After pausing to appreciate the way the fabric draped over her curves, Chibs stepped behind her and splayed his hands on her hipbones, inhaling the scent of her hair. Aoife let out a little cry and jumped, narrowly missing his nose. "Shh, it's me, lass."

"I'm sorry. You just...startled me." Aoife turned to face him, flushed red with embarrassment and buried her head in his chest. Her wet hands crossed behind his back and pulled him flush against her body. He could feel the wild thudding of her heart. "I'm sorry," she repeated.

"I'm the one who should be sorry. Didn't mean to scare you. But it's all okay now, right?" He tipped her chin up so that he could see her eyes.

Aoife nodded and then her lips curled up into a small smile. "I don't know what I did to deserve you."

"I think the same thing every damn day." He cupped her chin with his hand and brought his lips to hers. "Love you."

Chibs lay on his back, panting and sweat-slicked. Aoife, breathless and damp, pulled herself from between his legs onto his chest. "That's three," she teased, her breath tickling his ear.

"I swear, lass, someday you're going to be the death of me," he chuckled, his hands giving her rounded ass a generous squeeze. He was rewarded with a wiggle of her hips that made him think round 4 was a distinct possibility.

"But you'll die happy," she retorted with a laugh before tonguing along his collarbone. For reasons he couldn't fathom, the decision about Cara Cara came into his head.

"Speaking of dyin' happy," he began, and then wanted to smack himself for such an awkward segue, "the club's gettin' involved in a new business that I need to tell you about." Aoife stopped her oral ministrations on his neck and raised an eyebrow that conveyed her disbelief at his discussion of club matters at this time. "It's just something you need to know. You know about the raid on Luann's? We're fronting the cash to get her started in a new studio, and we're gonna be partners with her."

"You boys are going to be making porn?" Aoife asked with a smirk of either amusement or annoyance. He couldn't tell.

"Aye. Well, not making it. Funding it and making money off of it. It's a legitimate business, and a lot safer than guns. And we're providing security."

"Security, aye? So that means you boys get to sit around and watch porn being made?"

"Aye," Chibs agreed slowly and a little sheepishly, searching her face for any sign of anger or discomfort.

Aoife bobbed her head slightly and the corners of her eyes crinkled with amusement at the way he was monitoring her reaction. "Okay." She shrugged.

Chibs blinked rapidly. "Okay? That's it, lass?"

"You were expecting something more?" Aoife asked with a giggle in her voice, propping herself up on an elbow.

Chibs unconsciously brought his hand up to stroke his goatee. "Tara's not real happy with Jax about it. If Donna were still alive, she'd shit a brick. I guess I just thought you might have reservations, too."

Aoife's free hand finger-combed his graying dark hair. "You're not planning on going back on what we agreed, are ya?"

"Not a fucking chance," Chibs assured her, his fingertips tracing the line of her jaw. His voice was firm as steel. "Whatever happens, my dick stays in my pants. No croweater or porn star is worth losing you, a chuisle."

"Then my answer is the same - 'okay.' I trust you." She brought her lips to the shell of his ear, and her voice dropped low and sultry. "And if watching porn being made gets you all hot, I think I will be better than okay, because you'll have to come home to me to get out all your tension." She trailed her fingernails down his stomach to his groin, cupping his growing erection.

"Damn, lass," Chibs grunted as his hips bucked involuntarily against her hand.

"Good morning," Aoife looked up from the register into a pair of pretty blue eyes that contrasted sharply with the purplish bruises underneath them.

"Lyla, good morning!" Aoife answered cheerfully. "How are you feeling?"

The porn actress frowned. "Been better. But then I've been worse, too. The doc says I'm healing fine and there won't be any permanent disfigurement. Luann's hoping that means I won't have much downtime before I can be back in front of the camera."

"That's really good to hear." Aoife said. "So, what can I help you with?"

"Oh, yeah." Lyla fished a folded piece of paper out of the back pocket of her figure-hugging dark blue jeans. "Big order for the studio. I'm running errands so that I can keep collecting a paycheck."

Aoife skimmed the order. "Hey, Cole, we've got a decent size to-go order here. Could you start on the coffees while I get the pastries ready?"

"Yes, ma'am," Cole confirmed with a little salute as he took the paper from her fingertips.

Lyla stood at the pastry case, checking her hair for split ends, while Aoife filled a box with muffins. "How's your son?" Aoife asked.

"Huh?" Lyla dropped the section of hair she was inspecting.

Folding over the lid on the first box, Aoife enunciated the words. "How is your son?"

Lyla's bored expression transformed to happiness and pride. "He's good. He got up extra early this morning because he made a 'get well soon' card for me." The blonde dug into her purse and pulled out a folded piece of green construction paper. She held it up so that Aoife could see the crooked writing in purple crayon that spelled out "Get wel soon, Mommmy." The "g" and the "y" were backwards. "Spelling's not his best subject. He drew me a picture, too." She opened the card to reveal two yellow-haired stick figures standing under a tree on a blanket of flowers. Animals frolicked around the pair.

"That's sweet." Aoife rang up the order and swiped the credit card through her machine. "You need help getting these into your car?"

"Yes, please," Lyla accepted.

On the fourth morning of Lyla standing at the counter with an identical order, Aoife commented, "You know, Luann could arrange a standing order so that you wouldn't have to wait every morning."

Lyla shrugged. "I don't mind waiting. This is a lot better than the swill we got from the gas station doughnut shop on the corner at our old location."

The two women shared a smile. "I don't mind you waiting, either, but I wanted you to know it's an option. Your nose is already looking a lot better."

"I still think it looks horrid," Lyla protested. "I hate seeing it in the mirror."

"Bruised and swollen, but not horrid. You're still a very pretty woman," Aoife reassured her.

The shop phone rang within an hour of Lyla departing with her coffee and pastries. "Irish Coffee Shop, this is Aoife, how many I help you?"

"Hi, Aoife. It's Lyla. I told Luann about your suggestion, and she wants to set up a standing order while we're working on this shoot."

The next morning, the coffee shop phone rang. Cole answered and yelled for Aoife. With his hand over the receiver, he whispered. "I'm not sure who it is, but she's asking for you."

Aoife accepted the receiver and answered automatically, "Irish Coffee Shop, this is Aoife, how may I help you?"

"Aoife, it's Lyla." Her words tumbled over one another in her rush to speak. "I'm at my son's school, and my car won't start. I'm going to have to find someone else to pick up the standing order, and I am going to start calling around for someone to pick me up for work and there's are some guys here in the parking lot who look like Georgie's and the other parents are starting to drive away but nobody wants to help the porn star slut-"

Aoife's maternal instincts kicked in. "Lyla, stop. Where are you right now?"

"The elementary school parking lot."

"Over near the library and the public park?"

"Yes." Lyla confirmed, her voice thin and nervous.

"Stay in the car. Lock the doors. I'll be there in less than 10 minutes." Aoife hung up the phone. "Cole, hold down the fort for me?"

Aoife hit the speed dial on her own phone as she pulled out of her garage behind the shop. "Teller-Morrow," a gruff voice barked.

"Piney?"

"Who's this?"

"It's Aoife. Look, Piney, we need a tow truck out to the elementary school parking lot as soon as you can manage. Lyla's car is broken down out there."

"Lyla?"

"She's one of Luann's girls, and she thinks that some of Georgie's thugs are out there watching her."

"I'll grab the prospect and we'll be on our way. You be careful, girl." Piney hung up the phone with a thud.

Aoife turned off the ignition in front of the warehouse that now hosted Cara Cara. Lyla stepped out of the car and reached in the backseat for the coffee. "I'll come back out for the pastries in a minute."

"Don't be silly," Aoife protested. "I have two capable hands." Aoife's first thought upon entering Cara Cara how bright it was - stage lighting, she assumed. Her eyes fell on set featuring a large, round bed where two mostly naked women were going down on one another while a camera operator circled them. On the far side of the bed, Luann lounged in a folding director's chair, her legs draped over one arm while she sipped a Diet Pepsi bottle with a straw. A few feet away on a faded sofa, Juice leaned forward with his elbows on his knees, absorbed in the action. A half-full bowl of popcorn sat beside him on the couch, and he would periodically snake an arm into the bowl to grab a handful. Popcorn littered the floor by his feet, proof that he was missing his mouth as often as he hit it.

"Aoife," Lyla whispered, and Aoife realized she was staring.

"Sorry," she hissed back. Lyla signaled Aoife to follow and lead her into a small kitchenette. Once Lyla pulled the door closed, Aoife apologized again. Lyla waved away her apologies.

"That's pretty normal reaction. Don't sweat it." Lyla unboxed the individual, labeled coffees.

Aoife opened the pastry boxes, her back to the door. She heard the kitchen door open and assumed it was an actor coming to claim food, but instead she heard a familiar voice. "Aoife?"

"Filip!" She threw her arms around his neck and kissed him. "I missed you the last two nights."

"Missed you, too. I was just telling Juicey that when Tig and Hap come to relieve us, we should stop by the shop for lunch."

"You still should. I was just giving Lyla a ride and have to get back there."

"Then that's just what we'll do. Come on, I'll walk you to the door," Chibs urged.

"Wait," Lyla said softly from the other side of the kitchen island. She held her slender hand out to Aoife. "Thank you for picking me up today. You didn't have to. It's nice to have a friend."

Aoife accepted Lyla's hand and squeezed it. "It is. I'm glad you called me."

At the building door, Chibs cupped Aoife's face in his hands and planted a long, lingering kiss on her lips. "Ye're right," he breathed. "Watching movies bein' made means all I can think about is getting you in bed as soon as I get home." He stepped outside the door and looked around. "Just checking for any of Georgie's troublemakers. I don't see anyone. You be careful now, lass, and I'll see you tonight. Aye?"

"Aye," Aoife agreed before tasting his lips once more.

Chibs lead her outside to her car and watched her get in and prepare to drive away. As she pulled out of the lot, she heard a motorcycle engine fire up. Aoife watched in her rearview mirror as Chibs followed her until she parked the car in the garage. He stayed astride the bike, engine idling, until Aoife opened the side door to the coffee shop. Then with a wink and a mischievous grin, Chibs sped off down the alley.

Chibs slipped out the back door of the garage, looking right and left quickly. Weaving through the back lot, he let himself out through the gate and crossed to the opposite alley. He unlocked the Oldsmobile and settled into the driver's seat. Pulling onto the street, he lit up a cigarette and tuned the radio to the local classic rock station. He cruised on a circuitous route, checking in the mirror for any tails. Confident that he wasn't being followed after a series of quick turns, he rumbled down an alley near Aoife's apartment, put the Olds into park, and hopped out. He whistled softly, taking her apartment steps two at a time, his heart buoyed up at the prospect of seeing his love. From inside the apartment, he could hear Flogging Molly belting out "Tobacco Island."

Chibs pushed the door open slowly, not wanting to scare Aoife. She'd been jumpy lately, easy to startle. Aoife had her back to him, arranging cups and snacks on the tea-tray.

He shed his cut on the bar stool and waited for a break in the music. When it came, he whispered, "Evening, lass."

Aoife let go of the tea-tray with a start. One mug hit the floor with shattering crash, and the other tipped on the tray. Hot Irish coffee arced through the air.

"Aoife!" Chibs all but vaulted the counter, pulling her to her feet and checking her for burns. Luckily, the hot coffee had splattered on her clothing, missing the exposed skin of her arms and upper chest. Never taking his eyes from hers, he backed out of the kitchen and down the hall, leading her to the bedroom. "Let's get you out of these wet clothes." She still hadn't spoken, and she barely moved to help him as he yanked off her yoga pants and t-shirt. "Sit, love" he commanded, pointing to the bed, and checked her to make sure that no burns had occurred beneath the fabric. Kneeling between her legs, he put a hand on each of her shoulders and kissed her cheeks and then her forehead. "You alright?"

Aoife sucked in a long, quavering breath. She exhaled. "I – I think so."

"What's going on, love?"

"I don't know. I just have this nervousness I can't shake. I just got this terrible feeling something bad is coming." She stared down at her feet. Chibs' instincts told him that she was holding something back, but he couldn't for the life of him figure out what or why. Maybe she didn't rightly know. He considered his options and decided not to push. Whatever it was, it was causing his lass pain and turmoil, and he wouldn't add to that. He opened his arms, and Aoife fell into them. He held her there until his knees were screaming in pain.

"Hey," he whispered into her hair. "How about you crawl into bed? I'll go out and clean up the kitchen and be back before you know it." Aoife bit her lip and nodded slightly.

After mopping and sweeping up the mess, Chibs found Aoife still perched on the edge of the bed, trembling. He stripped down to his boxers and then picked Aoife up, cradling her in his arms. Kneeing the covers aside, he lowered the two of them into bed. He pulled the covers up to her chin and with his arms still offering her warmth and comfort, began to hum like his mother had to him, and he in turn had to Kerrianne. With each tone, he felt Aoife's body unwind incrementally. He kissed her hair. "As long as there is breath in my body, I will do everything in my power to keep you safe," he promised.