As if the impending interaction with Tig wasn't enough, Nina found herself walking straight out of the apartment and into Dmitri. She swallowed as she slammed into him and looked up, only to see a warm smile radiating from his face as he put his arm around her and guided her to the bar.

"Myshka. You look..." He frowned, craning his neck as he tried to read her face. "Distressed. What has happened?"

He didn't need to ask any more as Tig strutted out of the apartment with a wicked smile on his face. He looked over Dmitri with a sneer before pushing past him to get served first, tossing something at the prospect to get his attention. Pelekov pursed his lips as he looked back at the distracted look on Nina's face and shook his head.

"We should have put that monster down," he muttered to her. He caught her cheek and rubbed his thumb carefully along the dark scars on her face, why he missed them so much he wasn't sure. Maybe it was because Natasha was so young and and innocent. Dmitri had to be honest, he loved the demons that haunted Nina's expression, her history marked out on her body. "What can I do?"

"Nothing." Nina was clipped as she said it, wanting to shut down his line of enquiry. Dimi chuckled, she was stubborn as ever. Her objection, however, caught Chibs' ear and he broke back from his whispered conversation with Happy. Happy, spotting Dmitri, immediately took to his feet.

"Easy now," Juice whispered nervously, trying to back him down. "Tash is in the apartment."

Happy's eyes bulged, how he hadn't realised was beyond him but he sprung forward to go through. Dmitri watched him with amusement, so satisfied by Nina's company that he didn't worry. Instead, he relaxed back against the bar and gazed at her.

"At least she will be occupied," he mused. "And you, Nina? You are still..." He glanced over to Chibs to see the Scot staring back at him, an unwelcome darkness in his pupils. "Fulfilled?"

There was something in the way he said it that sent a cold rush through her. Nina grimaced and blinked at him before taking a long swig of beer. "We get by," she said, trying to smile. "We're happy, if that's what you want to hear."

Dmitri shook his head. "No, not at all. I want to hear that you are satisfied. Mentally. Physically," he added with a wink. "I know what you need, don't forget."

Nina tugged at her lip, unable to ignore the flood of mixed up memories from that night. It was the night Emily had been killed, the night that Nina had finally told Tig she couldn't pretend to be happy in their marriage any more. The night they had got high, and she had left him to get drunk at Diosa. That was where she'd met Dmitri and, coked out of her mind, had spent the night with him. It had been good, she knew that, but as his fingers ghosted her hip she whimpered quietly.

"Well I couldn't accept anything from the man sleeping with my daughter," she said, moving apart from him to avoid a further advance. Dmitri smiled a little, and glanced towards Chibs.

"And if I wasn't?" he asked curiously. "I'm not averse to making an arrangement, myshka..."

Nina had barely managed to parse his words before Chibs interrupted, dropping his arm around Nina's shoulders with a certain kind of firmness. Dmitri laughed off the assertion of authority and Chibs' nostrils flared as he looked at the Russian contemptuously. "Something funny?"

"No," Nina said quickly but Dmitri waved his hand dismissively.

"Not funny, as such. Potentially very serious." He smiled, it was disconcerting and Chibs felt his heart plummet. This guy had yanked his family around for far too long - he had been the whipping boy for the Irish and now for Dmitri Pelekov, but the club's trade relationship with him meant he couldn't do a goddamn thing about it. "I am a simple man, Filip, I believe in straightforward conversation."

"Dimi." Nina gave him a warning look but Dmitri hushed with a comforting smile.

"I want a night with your pozhilaya dama," he murmured, keeping his gaze fixed firmly on Chibs as he waited for his reaction. When Chibs didn't respond, Dmitri took Nina's hand purposefully. "Your old lady."

Chibs' eyes widened and darted towards Nina instantly. "Is this a joke?"

"No joke." Dmitri shrugged. "We are all adults, aren't we? I cannot hide my lust for your wi-" He stopped himself short and shook his head before pointing toward Tig. "His wife."

"She's not a goddamn whore." Chibs' raised voice drew a few eyes towards them and Nina turned red, shrinking down between the two of them.

"Can you both stop it?" she asked sharply, her eyes flicking between them. "Not here, not now."

"Not ever," Chibs snapped, poking Dmitri hard in the chest. "You've got everything you want."

"Not quite." Dmitri's expression softened as he looked at Nina. "Your daughter is fine, but not what I crave."

"You're a piece of work." Chibs was doing everything he had to not to punch this prick in the face. Dmitri shrugged away Chibs' concern and pursed his lips.

"You don't forget a woman like that. When we fucked, it was incredible-"

That was it, Chibs didn't even hesitate as he grabbed his gun from the back of his pants and raised it to Dmitri's forehead, his thumb unlatching the safety in an instant. Jax snapped to attention at the scuffle, grabbing Chibs furiously and, slamming his hand against the bar, sent the revolver to the floor. Chibs grunted as his face was slammed forward against the wood as Bobby took over strong-arming him and Jax turned apologetically to Dmitri.

"Jesus, I'm so sorry, I don't know what got into him."

Dmitri rubbed his hands together and smirked. "I think it is who he got into, Jackson." He motioned to Nina before bending down to catch Chibs' eye. "I will leave Natasha here. Gesture of good will for the night. Perhaps you will consider my offer, Mr Telford. It would be worth it for you and your daughter, I'm sure of it."

"I didn't know you were here."

Happy shut the door silently as he took two great big strides across the room to get to Natasha. She looked up from her spot on the bed, Kaya tucked neatly beneath her arm, and smiled. She felt tired out by the mad rush of the day, and that combined with the emotional exhaustion of being reunited with her daughter had left her drained. Happy didn't hesitate as he dropped down next to her, his fingers brushing hers as he did. Natasha swallowed and, dutifully, pulled her hand away.

"Don't, Hap."

Happy pushed his lower lip out a little as she objected but he shook his head. "Why not?" he asked. His voice was soft but it was clearly a demand, he was frustrated by her objection and it was impossible for him to hide it. Tash eyed him with mild annoyance.

"You know exactly why."

Happy pulled himself up to his feet, his boots hitting the ground as he started to pace. What was wrong with her? "You don't owe that guy anything," he scowled, rubbing his palm over the snake tattooed on his head. "He took you. He held you against your will."

"No he didn't," Natasha corrected him. "I went. I went so my parents could be happy. They deserve that."

Happy snorted. "Oh? And what about you? You and me? Don't we deserve to be happy?" He could see she wasn't convinced. "You're my old lady. We're meant to be together, that's how it works. We commit and then that's it. No questions, no problems, just us."

Tash laughed at that, letting go of Kaya and wriggling to sit upright on the bed. "Never worked that way for my Ma," she smiled, trying to ease away the black cloud above Happy's head. "SAMCRO old ladies don't exactly get what they want." Happy shook his head.

"Your Mom was an exception. Tara, Gemma. They were good." Natasha snorted.

"Sure, except for Gem's affair with Grandda." She drew her knees closer to her, tilting her head. "Come on, Hap. I don't know where you've got this 'happily ever after' shite from."

Happy paused at the foot of the bed, looking at Kaya. He couldn't stop himself, all he wanted to do was stare at the little baby on the quilt. "Don't you want it? For her?"

Tash felt her throat beginning to close anxiously as he said it. Her hand reached to her neck and she felt along it, panic rising through her. Had Tig already got to him? "What did you say?"

Happy, sensing her fear, frowned and lowered himself to sit, reaching for Kaya's foot and wiggling her toes softly. "For your little sis? To see you happy? To know what it's like to love someone so deeply that nothing else matters in a life that's fucking hard?"

Natasha could feel the tears looming as he spoke so passionately. Her sister, that was what he thought Kaya was to her, and she could feel the frustration running through her, desperate to correct him. This was her child - their child - and she was forced to deprive him of her.

"We all have to make choices," she ventured. "You don't understand."

"You made the wrong choice." His eyes were full of a vibrating and bold energy that scared her. "I did too. But I'm going to make it right, Tash. For you. For her." He tugged on Kaya's toe carefully. "I didn't have brothers and sisters growing up. And Emily, she was shitty to you. You, you're going to inspire this kid to love and laugh and be a real dreamer. Just like your Mom did for you when she could."

All his words were so close to home that Natasha suddenly leaned forward, surprising him with her mouth against hers. Happy all but groaned with relief into her mouth as he felt her soft, perfect lips against his. Her kiss, it had changed but it still felt so right against him he didn't care. His hand reached up to her cheek to hold her close to him but Tash eased back gently.

"We'll find a way to make it all okay," she said softly. "When the time is right. But only then."

Happy leaned across, stroking her hair back from her face. Gazing at her, her beautiful young features seemed marked by a painful eighteen months away. "I can't wait that long," he said coolly. "I need you, Tash. I miss you."

He started to move to kiss her again when the sound of a commotion breaking out in the clubhouse drew his attention away. He sprung to his feet and started towards the door when he heard Jax apologising to Dmitri profusely. His nose twitched as he pressed his ear to the panel, listening carefully to the exchange before his body relaxed as Natasha was given leave to stay.

He waited until he was sure that Pelekov had left both the building and the lot before he edged the door open. Tig gave him a nod and barked,

"The Russian's gone, you lovebirds can come out now."

He was met with admonishment from Nina but Happy felt himself relaxing as he turned to Tash. He held his hand out to her. "Come on," he insisted. "Have a drink with your family."

She seemed hesitant but Happy took her hand more purposefully and led her out into the club. Chibs felt his heart sinking as he saw the happiness spreading across Natasha's face as Happy fussed over her, making sure she had the most comfortable seat before going to fetch her a drink. The Sergeant pulled up a seat by her feet and rested them on his knee adoringly as he gazed up at her and started to chat away with an animation that the club barely saw from him.

Chibs swallowed and glanced at Nina to see she was looking at the same thing, her fingernails beginning to graze across the scar across her forearm as they always did when she was anxious. Their daughter was happy, for the first time in a long time. Chibs pursed his lips and pushed a kiss onto Nina's temple.

"We should make a deal," she murmured, reading his mind. Her hand connected with his, their fingers twisted together in support. "With Dimi. I can't let her be sad any more, Filip. One night," she added, looking up at him guiltily. "It'll only be one night."