A few months pass and we all slip into a natural routine. Kozik is eventually voted in as a transfer without Tig there to block it. I throw myself into helping Gemma with TM and running the clubhouse. We all take turns going to visit the guys.
Each day Tara grows larger and more uncomfortable. Gemma annoys her to no end. Piney and I try to stay out of it but I can't help but side with Tara most of the time. Gemma's still meddling between Filip, Kozik and me. She makes sure I am left alone at the garage with Kozik while sending Filip out on every tow run and repo. Neither man let on if they realized what she was doing.
I look over at my alarm clock and groan before rolling out of bed. The bright red numbers remind me how insanely late it really is. I make my way out to the living room as the pounding at my door continues. Without looking through the peep hole, I fling the door open.
"You guys weren't answering. We gotta get to St. Thomas. Baby's coming." Kozik greets me. My senses return and I'm instantly awake. I run into the bedroom, rushing to wake Filip up.
"Ya don't need to be so mean baby. There's nicer ways of gettin what ya want." He grins at me and slips his hands under my shirt. I slap him away and roll my eyes.
"It's not that you perv. Tara's in labor." I tell him as I hurry to the closet and throw on the most comfortable clothes I am presentable in. When I step out, Filip's already dressed and slipping his shoes on. He's extremely excited as we take off.
Gemma pulls into the parking lot at the same time we do, throwing her car into park and running inside. I roll my eyes while I follow closely behind. When we get in there, the nurse leads us through double doors. Before I step back into the delivery area, Filip catches my arm and pulls me back for a quick, loving kiss. My head spins and I lose my balance, tripping over my own two feet. He laughs at me.
Two hours of labor later and a sweaty Tara holds baby Thomas to her chest, running a finger along his cheek. If Jaxson couldn't have been here for her, I'm glad it was me. His little fingers open and close in a fist and he curls up into Tara as she feeds him.
"He's beautiful momma." Gemma whispers from the other side of Tara's bed. Pride is obvious on her face. She's taken a million pictures to make sure Jaxson could see each moment. Tara was partially irritated with her.
"I'm gonna go let the guys know everything is good." I lean over and kiss Tara's forehead before walking back to the waiting room.
When I get through the doors, the group rushes me for news. A smile spreads across my face.
"He's here!" I announce. "Momma and Thomas are both completely healthy."
Some of them get a little obnoxious, my dad in particular. For once he's actually sober. Filip stands off to one side, moving from foot to foot nervously like an anxious father. He looks up and opens his arms to me. I smile as I tuck into him.
"I'm goin outside for a smoke, ya comin?" His eyes are playful and his sexy smile is convincing. I nod and follow behind him out the doors. The cool early morning air wakes me up and I feel momentarily refreshed.
"Ya did good love." He lights his cigarette, taking a deep drag off of it.
"I didn't do anything but keep her from killing Gemma and tell her to push a lot." I dismiss his compliment.
"Ya've done so much more than that since the guys went away." He steps in closer when I shiver against the cold.
"I miss them." I tell him.
"Yeah, me too baby, me too." He agrees grimly.
"We'll have to go visit Jaxson today." I realize it's going to be a long day ahead of us. At least it was because of something good finally.
"Let's go see that baby." He takes my hand and pulls me back inside.
"So he's good? Tara too?" Jaxson can't break his smile.
"Yeah daddy. Everything is great. Doctor's say he avoided the family flaw" I wrap my hand around his and his happiness is contagious.
"Aye brother, Tara was a champ. Bree stood by her the whole time." Filip brags and a rush of blood pools in my cheeks.
"Thank you; both of you, for everything." There are tears in his eyes but his smile never fades.
"How are our boys inside?" I ask, opening the door for their quick club business that I try not to listen to. It's my job to look interested, instead of bored or checked out. My exhaustion doesn't help my attention.
"How are you two doin?" Jaxson turns his tone serious and looks at Filip.
"We're great Jax." Filip pulls me into his body to illustrate my point. I smile at my brother with genuine love.
"Bout damn time you got your head out of your ass." He laughs at me and I try, unsuccessfully, to glare at him before his laughter is contagious.
"I miss you guys. And tell my girl I love her and I'm proud of her. Hold her and that little man close for me." He stands up as the visit ends and gives each of us a hard hug, beaming the whole time.
"See you soon dad." I laugh as he turns back away. When he disappears around a corner, my face falls as usual. I know we're half way through this but it still seems too long; especially now with the baby.
Filip puts his arm around me and we follow the other depressed family members back through the gates and to the other side of a wall.
"When did you get back baby?" Gemma asks when I get back to the hospital.
"Just a few minutes ago. Filip took me to the house so I could get my car. He's goin over to TM." I pull my hair into a ponytail and turn to head into Tara's room.
"Bree I want you to be careful with this. I just got a bad feeling about you two getting so serious again." I raise my eyebrow at her. "Don't look at me like that. It's a momma's instinct."
"Yeah, I know how you feel Gemma. I get it ok. We're together and that's the end of it. You should be happy for me." I try to keep my voice calm but I'm shaking in anger. Now is not the time to fight. I turn away from her and head through the doors to check in on my new nephew and Tara.
Two Weeks Later
"You gonna take her up there for me today?" I ask Filip, getting ready for the day.
"Yeah, she's takin Thomas." He pulls a t-shirt on over his damp hair.
"Good. Drop me off at work and take my car. The cutlass is in the garage for an oil change." I toss him my keys on the way out the door.
"Seriously?" I stand in the doorway; hand on my hip staring at the older woman. Gemma shakes the paperwork at me, not allowing me to argue with her.
"Go now. Grab Kozik." She repeats her previous instructions. I scowl at her, irritated at her unsubtle hints.
"FINE!" I yell, slamming the door behind me. She's up and out of her desk, following me close almost instantly. I hear the angry click of her heels on the concrete as I reach the tow truck.
"What is your problem little girl?" She stops with her hands on her hips, looking over her glasses.
"I'm not a little girl and don't think I don't realize what you're doing. I've been a part of enough of your schemes to recognize what this shit is." I growl at her, pulling the door open violently and climbing into the truck with an uncomfortable looking Kozik.
He doesn't hesitate before taking off. I concentrate on the paperwork in front of me quietly; only talking to him to give directions or information.
"You gonna tell me what the hell is going on?" He finally asks.
"Gemma's trying to play God; messing with people's lives." I stare at the clipboard in front of me.
"So nothing new right?" He laughs a little, trying to lighten the mood. It doesn't quite work. "Listen, I'm sorry you got stuck with me. I can go back and grab a prospect, forget Gemma."
I sigh and instantly feel bad for taking this out on him. I'm mad at Gemma and he had nothing to do with it.
"No, that's fine Koz. I'm just irritated with her. It's not you." He laughs a little.
"It's not you, it's me . . . are we breaking up Bree?" I giggle at his horrible line.
"You've been talking to Tig too much." His laughing stops and he shoots me a look over his sunglasses. I give him a nice sarcastic smile.
The rest of our run goes smoothly and we're back at the garage before it closes. I walk into the office and throw the clipboard on the desk. Gemma stares at me with her signature scowl. It has no effect on me as I turn back around and leave her there to pout.
Filip and Tara pull in a moment later. I meet them as they open the doors. Filip greets me with a smile and a sweet kiss as he pushes me against my car. His hand moves to my face and I can't help but smile against his lips.
"You greet all the guys that way?" He asks; a teasing gleam in his eye.
"Of course I do." I disentangle myself from him and walk over to help Tara pull Thomas out of the car.
Abel bounds out from Filip's side and runs over for a hug. I bend over to pick him up and he wraps his tiny arms around my neck. Filip laughs as he walks up to the garage to talk to my dad.
"Someone missed his aunt." Tara chuckles at the boy. "Jaxson told me to tell you he loves you."
"Thanks Tara. I'll go see him sometime this week." Gemma stands in the doorway, still glaring at me.
"What's going on?" She asks, sensing the instant tension.
"She's trying to play her games." I explain
"You and Kozik?" I nod my head with a roll of my eyes. She gives me a sympathetic smile. "Just ignore her. Maybe talk to Jaxson about it; let him say something."
"Yeah, maybe." I concede. "Car's done by the way. Kozik finished it up earlier." I pull her keys out of my pocket and drop them into her waiting palm.
"Doc, ya done with my girl? I wanna take her home and do wonderful nasty things ta her." Filip calls out, joining us at the back of my car.
"I don't think I have much of a choice now that I'm stuck with that visual." Tara gives him a playful look of disgust.
I walk Abel over and put him down at the play set with Unser. The old man had been hanging around the lot more often since retirement kicked in. I check in with my dad and Opie before taking off with Filip.