"Just wait! I'm fucking coming!" I shout at whoever is pounding at my front door. Kozik snores loudly from the couch. I can't believe he can sleep through it; I feel safer already.
I fling open the door and a rush of bodies pours in. Opie is there followed by Chibs and the two prospects. My mind automatically goes into panic mode and I assume the worst. My dad is parked on his bike in the driveway. Miles and Phil hang out on my front porch.
"Morning baby sister." Opie hands me a to-go container that smells delicious. My traitorous stomach growls in response.
"Yeah, Morning. What's going on?" I avoid making eye contact with them.
"Chibs needs to talk to you. I'm pretty sure you have a few things to say too." Opie explains. "I brought back up in case you have one of your fits."
"Seriously? You're a fucking Judas." I pout, turning and heading back to the kitchen. I start a pot of coffee for my house full of unwanted guests. "Don't you have other shit to do today?"
"Yeah, we do and we're gonna need you to know this shit before we go." He explains, without really explaining. I sigh and give up.
"Fine!" I leave the food on the counter and go back to my bedroom. Filip follows looking uneasy. He closes the door behind him.
"Just so ya know, I got the same wake up call." He says, lowering himself into the chair next to my bed. I climb on my bed and pull my feet underneath me.
"That's nice. What did you need to tell me?" I struggle to keep my voice cold and I can't bring myself to look at him.
"I filed for divorce. Lowen faxed some information ta TM and Gemma got ahold of it. She apparently called Fiona & told her. Helped her get out here and even brought her ta the clubhouse that night." Filip explains. "The guys don't know about Gemma bein involved but they thought ya should know about the divorce."
He reaches into the pocket on the inside of his kutte and hands me a packet of papers. I hesitate to take it and he sets it down on the table. I take the paperwork and carefully open it.
Petition for Dissolution of Marriage – State of California
I skim over the words, not quite comprehending and when I reach the bottom of the first page, I look up at him.
"Why are you doing this now?" I ask.
"I didn't want it hangin over us anymore. Wanted ta be with you and not have ta deal with that." And just like that, I feel like an idiot. "I shoulda just told ya and none of this woulda happened."
"Fuck!" I cover my eyes with my hand. "You're gonna hate me."
He gets up and sits down next to me on the bed. He can tell I'm panicked and he chuckles a little.
"You think I'm gonna hate ya. Ya really are crazy." He laughs a little. "Besides, that's not all and when I tell ya the rest, yer gonna kill me." My head shoots up and his expression immediately falls.
"Please tell me you didn't sleep. . . " I start.
"No." He interrupts. "Nothing like that. Kozik was watching ya for me. I wasn't sure what Fi was gonna try while she was here and I didn't want what happened at the diner ta happen. I couldn't stand the thought that ya might have ta deal with that."
"Kozik's been my babysitter?" I ask, not irritated at all. Actually, it makes me feel worse about my pigheadedness and the torture I put him through.
"Aye." He looks down at his hands.
"Jesus Filip. I'm insane. This is ridiculous. I saw her there and freaked out, I shoulda listened to you." I sigh before getting the next part out. "I wasn't kidding when I said you're gonna hate me."
"Why?" He asks, I can tell his mind is searching for whatever I'm going to tell him.
"That night that I ended up in the hospital, the doctor did some blood work." I hang my head, staring at my hands. "I'm pregnant Filip; almost 3 months now."
The room grows eerily quiet and my fear sets in. I half expect him to race out of the room and out of Charming. Each second that passes my heart and breathing slow more.
"Please just say something." I plead with him. "I know you're probably mad because I didn't tell you but I swear I was going to, I just need some time. Jaxson, Opie and Tara know but that's all." The words come out in a rushed babble.
He reaches over and puts his finger under my chin, turning my face toward his. A huge grin plays out across his face.
"Only way I'm gonna be mad is if ya tell me it's Kozik's." He gives me the most gentle, delicate kiss before pulling away. "It's not right?" He laughs as I slap him on the arm playfully. "I'm gonna make this right baby."
"We both will. I gotta stop freakin out. At least now I can blame it on the hormones." My stomach growls again, reminding me of the food in the kitchen. He stands up and helps me up off the bed. I immediately press myself against him, having missed the closeness. A small growl escapes him.
"We better go. You gotta eat." He says.
"Do you really have to go?" I whine a little as he opens the door.
"No, we really have to go. We're going to see Jaxson. He's requested you and I go." His face turns serious and I start to dread that I even asked.
"Not a friendly visit hu?" He shakes his head at me and we walk out to the kitchen.
Opie and Kozik lounge in my living room watching reruns of Monster Garage. I sit down at the table and quickly shovel the warm food in my mouth. The usual queasy feeling that I get from eating hits me but fades by the time I finish my shower.
Filip insists on taking my car and I don't argue for now. I'm still not far enough along to be uncomfortable but I think his concern is adorable.
I wait with Filip; he doesn't take his hand away from mine for any reason. Jaxson, Bobby and Juice come out and none of them look happy. Kozik and Opie go join their respective visits while Jaxson saunters over to us. He stares at our hands interlocked with a look of confusion.
"Hey sis." He wraps me up in a hug and squeezes tight. He leans over and whispers in my ear. "How's my niece?"
"Bite your tongue. That would be the worst possible thing." I laugh at him.
"Filip." He greets the man with animosity. "You talk to her yet? Let her know what's going on?"
"Aye, we're both on the same page." As a confirmation, he reaches around pats my stomach lovingly.
"Bout time." Jaxson sits down across from us at the table.
Filip tells him everything; including his mother's role in bringing Fiona here. He's pissed off but not surprised. He looks at me with a careful expression and I can tell he's considering something.
"You two need full disclosure; plain and simple. You gotta tell him everything Bree. He needs to know, I won't ask you to hide anything from him anymore." He promises. "Just make sure you do the same asshole." He turns to look at Filip who nods in agreement.
The two of them discuss club business, explaining what the next steps were for the Russians. I wait patiently for them to finish, wanting to discuss my own business.
"Jax I gotta ask. What are we gonna do about Clay and Tig? They killed my sister." I reach across the table and grab his hand.
"We're gonna wait till Clay steps down, he doesn't have it in him anymore." He says, not meeting my eyes.
"That's it?" I knew that was the answer I was going to get but it's still hard to hear. "And if they hurt your mom or Tara or anyone else?"
"I don't know the answer to that Bree. I just need you to trust me and be patient." He lowers his voice.
"I always trust you Jaxson but this doesn't sit right with me." I withdraw my hand and slide closer to Filip. The chill that runs through me has nothing to do with the temperature of the prison. The guard stops by our table, letting us know time is up. I hate this part.
"Be good to her Filip. Get this divorce shit outta the way and get that bitch of an ex-wife back to Ireland." Jaxson warns him with a ghostly smile. "And stop being such a pain in our asses." He turns to me and gives me a hug. I wave to Bobby and Juice as Kozik and Opie join us to leave.