A/N - Hey team, wishing you a lovely Thursday from sunny London! Thank you always for all the amazing feedback and comments, I think they are really brilliant.

I would just like to take this moment to say that I have really very, very strong feelings about rape and rape culture. I'm not going to get on a high-horse about it but I will never, ever condone anyone accusing a woman of 'leading a man on' or something so horrific happening because 'she deserved it' or 'she was asking for it.' It makes me furious. There is no excuse, ever. Every woman - and man, for that matter - has the right to say no, and that should be the end of the discussion. If you have a different opinion, I simply don't want to hear it.

Rant over, enjoy!

Chibs rolled his neck from one side to the other, he was too old to be sleeping on the couch these days. As he smoked his way through breakfast, obsessively fiddling with his phone and hoping that Nina might call him, he contemplated going back to the club. The time he'd wanted to spend away with her was not time he wanted to waste with Fiona. They had spent the whole night arguing, he was exhausted, miserable and achingly lonely.

He eventually decided to go the clubhouse. He ran his hands over the handlebars of his Harley as he parked up, looking at the sad shells of the other bikes. At least his was still in one piece, that was a hell of a lot of work to be done on the rest of the fleet.

As he came in, he saw Tig in pieces stretched out on the sofa. He looked like he could barely move, his face and lips were swollen and still bloody. His whole body was twisted in agony and Chibs wrinkled his nose as he looked at him. Nero had clearly been given the opportunity to do what Chibs himself wished he'd been allowed to. At least someone had done it.

"Surprised he's not dead," he muttered, dropping down on the barstool beside Bobby. Bobby glanced over at him and winced.

"You know why he's like that?" he asked, lowering his voice to a conspiratorial whisper. "Jax just brought him back like that last night." Chibs laughed darkly.

"Because he deserved it," he replied. Clearly Jax didn't want to share the why, otherwise Bobby would already know. "Because he's a greedy fucking arsehole."

Bobby was about to pry further when Jax came bowling through. He smirked as he saw Chibs sitting there looking so dishevelled, clearly Fiona had gotten to him. "Brother," he smiled, slapping Chibs' arm. "Did you enjoy my little arrangement for you? Looks like she kept you up all night."

Chibs went cold as he heard the words. "You brought her back?" He swallowed, his nails scratching at his throat. "Jackieboy, I-"

"Glad to have you back in the clubhouse," Jax said, interrupting him. He pulled Chibs into a rough hug and, as he leaned in close to Chibs, he held his head close and whispered, "Next time, you'll do what I tell you to, and you'll fuck who I tell you to."

Before Chibs could even get another word out, Jax walked proudly back out towards TM. Chibs felt his stomach flip, this was all some sort of ploy. He knew there was no reason for Fiona to be back, this was all on Jax's command. He felt pale at the very idea. This was going to get out of hand, and quickly. Bobby could see the change in Chibs' demeanour almost instantly, he pulled at his beard as he leaned against the bar.

"You okay, man?"

"Things are changing," Chibs said quietly. "I thought he was ready but I'm not sure any more."

Bobby swallowed and motioned for Chibs to follow him into chapel. The two sat down in their own seats, looking at each other coolly. Eventually Bobby asked the question he had been so desperate to. "Why'd he take your patch?"

"Artistic differences," Chibs joked with a wry smile. Bobby laughed but looked at him for a real answer. Chibs sighed as he sat back, Jax might not want to discuss it but he sure did. "I went with that girl. Nero's daughter. I like her." He looked at his hands awkwardly, wishing he'd been able to do more to stop Fiona from scaring the life out of the poor creature. "I know he said not to, but it was... complicated."

Bobby smiled, Chibs was such a softie. It was rare for him to take a shine to anyone for more than a quick fumble, he could tell that his intentions were genuine. "Bet Jax didn't like it?"

"It just kinda happened, Elvis." There was a forlorn look in his eyes, it made Bobby reach across the table for his brother's hand, it was clear he was hurting in some way and his compassion swelled in his chest. "And now Fiona's here."

"In Charming?" Bobby's eyes widened, that was certainly not good. When Fiona was in town, the Irish weren't far behind. Even now Jimmy was gone, Galen was a constant threat. "Since when?"

"Last night. Think our Prez had a hand in it," he added, venturing an eye to Bobby's face. "I don't like it. I know he's pissed about Nero and Gemma, but he can't just lay down rules about the women we're with, that's not how this works."

Bobby nodded in agreement, Nina wasn't exactly a tactical move by any standard. "And Nero? Pulling us out of Diosa? Is that on you?"

Chibs shook his head and pointed towards the club. "Seems I wasn't the only one with designs on her," he said. Bobby groaned, rolling his eyes as he realised that Tig had been put through the ringer because of the girl. "Mine were just a little less... volatile."

"Shit." Bobby sighed, Chibs didn't need to say any more. "Where is she now?"

"Diosa, I imagine," Chibs shrugged. "Fiona kicked her out of my place, it's not like she has a lot of friends."

And that was where the pain was coming from, Bobby could see it now. He got up and moved around the table to stand behind Chibs, resting his hands on his shoulders and rubbing them supportively. "Go to her," he insisted. "Go and take care of her, the way you want to." He gave him a hug as he stood. "I can cover for you here, you need to sort your personal shit out."

"And Jax?" Chibs grimaced. "He won't be happy."

"Leave Jax to me," Bobby said. "I'll make it all work, you just go look after your girl."

Nina sat in the corner of the Diosa bar, crestfallen as she stirred her spoon in another cup of coffee. She'd have to wait for Nero to leave before she could top it up with whisky, he was keeping an eye on her like a hawk, not daring to let her out of his sight. She had never wanted to look so unappealing before, she'd pulled on an oversized sweater and the loosest jogging pants she could find. Her head was hidden by the hood of her top as she rested her forehead on her fist.

"Can I get you something?" Nero offered, looking at her with worry. He hated seeing her so sad, all of the brightness she had arrived with was gone. She shook her head and just pulled her clothes tighter around her.

"Nope," she said sulkily, tucking her knees beneath her chin. "I'm just fine."

Nero rubbed his hands together as he dropped down on the couch, putting his arm around her and cuddling her softly. "My babygirl," he said lovingly, kissing the side of her hoodie. Nina let out an almighty sigh and buried her head in the crook of his shoulder.

"I just feel like I've come here and fucked up," she said softly, trying not to cry. Nero shook his head in an instant, he hated that she was blaming herself for something so out of her control.

"Don't you dare, don't you dare lay this on you," he insisted firmly. "You could have been doing a striptease with a damn lettuce leaf, Nina, 'no' means 'no' and what happened with that piece of shit is not your fault. Ever."

She sniffed and wiped the corner of her eye with her hand. "I should never have come here, I only came because-" She stopped, looking up as the door swung open and Chibs walked in. She hid her face in her hands, embarrassed, as Nero stood up, blocking the sight of her. He would have shaken Chibs' hand if he hadn't already heard the story of what had happened with Fiona, instead he simply looked at him with intrigue.

"Need something?" he asked, tilting his head to one side. He flexed his hands, Chibs could see that Nero's fingers were raw from the pounding he had given Tig. He leaned around him to look at Nina, she was chewing on her nail and staring blankly at her own feet.

"I wanted to talk to her," he said, looking at Nero with a pleading expression. "Please?"

Nero chuckled. "Your wife know you're here?" Chibs was silent and Nero stepped closer. "I expected as much from that asshole Tig, but I didn't think you'd hurt her too."

"It wasn't my intention," Chibs said firmly. "I didn't even know Fiona was coming. I don't even want her here," he added, his voice dropping to a whisper. "Please, Nero. I really care about your daughter."

"That why you kicked her out of your house?"

"It wasn't him." Nina was looking up at him now, her eyes glowing from beneath the hood of her sweater. "Your wife is a psychopath."

Chibs smiled as he skirted around Nero and sat down on the arm of the couch beside her, taking her hand and kissing her fingers softly. "Aye, I know. It's why I haven't seen her for years. Belfast, it kinda does that to you," he added as she allowed him to hold her. His thumb ran gently over her knuckles as he slid down to sit beside her, folding her beneath his arm. Nero watched, his fierce protectiveness dissolving as he saw Nina settle into the Scot's hold, closing her eyes as she breathed him in.

"You didn't shower," she ventured quietly. Chibs laughed.

"Sorry," he apologised, nuzzling her forehead. "Was kinda in a bad mood this morning."

"No excuse," she murmured, getting up and pulling him to his feet. "He can shower upstairs, right Daddy?"

Nero swallowed, he knew where they were going and what it meant. Most of him hated it, but there was a little part that would do anything to see her happy. "Sure, course he can. He's coming right up," he added as Nina started towards the stairs. Chibs held back a moment, giving her an encouraging smile, and Nero slumped his arm heavily around Chibs' shoulders as they walked slowly to the bottom of the stairs.

"Let me make this very, very clear, mano," Nero said firmly. "You can go up there because she likes you. You can sleep with her, if that's what she wants, because that's what adults do when they like each other. But if you ever hurt her, even just the tiniest bit?" He let go of Chibs and dusted off his shirt with a cool smile. "I'll do to you what I did to your friend Trager, then I'll do a little bit worse, and then I'll kill you."