CHAPTER THIRTY

I thought I better specify, Lyla does not have a son; Piper does not exist in my universe (yet).

To clarify ages are as follows: Piney – 61. Clay – 52. Gemma – 44. Bobby – 41. Chibs – 38. Tig – 35. Happy – 33. Jacob Hale (jnr) – 26. Cherry – 24. Jax, Opie, Cam, Juice – 23. Donna, Al, Sarah, Kip – 22. Miles, David Hale – 21. Lyla – 20. Ellie & Kenny – 4. Abel – 4 months.

The shopping trip doesn't take anywhere as long as I would have thought, I find a short dress in the same colours as mine that all four of the women with me agree on. Taking a photo and sending it to Cam to make sure she likes it as well takes a few minutes, but when she sends back a thumbs up I pull her size from the rack and get the other four to try them on to make sure they look okay.

While they're trying on their dresses I stand outside holding Cam's, looking around the store. The four of them come out of the dressing rooms almost at the same time, the smiles on their faces showing that they're all happy with the choice.

While they change back into their own clothes I ring Jax, the sound of Gemma barking orders in the background telling me that he's at the reservation helping set up "Baby I've picked dresses for the five of them but I have a problem."

Jax sighs "Do I want to know? Actually forget that, do I need to know?"

"Not really, but I know you're on a bit of a 'stop me overspending' trip at the moment and I thought I'd be a good little wifey and ask..."

"If it's to do with this debarkle just do it babe. Ma told me that anything you spend she'll give you back half of." The voices around Jax fade as I hear gravel crunching under his feet "I am so glad we did this for the first time out of state. My mother has had us here since 8am; we'll be here all day."

"Where are Abel and Doj?" I glance down at my watch, surprised that it's already almost 12.

"Abel's here with us, the dog is still at the lot. She arranged for the groomer to come in and give him a bath before tomorrow cause apparently you demanded he be here?" Jax's voice is a combination of confusion and humour.

I laugh "I didn't demand, I asked if he could be there. Apparently that put up the chief's opinion of me cause I wouldn't do this without my pet. Something about animal-human relationships."

Jax laughs "That might explain why he asked why our furry son wasn't here today."

Nodding I roll my eyes at myself when I remember he can't see me "Probably. I've always called him my fur-kid, and he always will be."

Jax sighs deeply, sounding beyond tired "I better go, I'm being called, again."

"Okay babe. See you at home later. Love you."

"Love you too Darlin'." Closing my phone I contemplate for a second that I'm still using the burner that Gemma gave me my first day back in Charming and I've never had any messages arrive about needing to put credit on it.

Looking up I find Donna's already arrived back and ask her about it, shoving the phone back in my bag "I've had this phone for months, who's been paying for it?"

"Your husband of course." She tells me, rolling her eyes "The girls are almost ready then we'll go find shoes and underwear, I do not want to be flashing anyone."

"I want you, Al and Cam to wear the jewellery I brought for you, I'm just wondering if I should get the same for Lyla and Cherry so you all match." That's the reason I'd rung Jax, I'd wanted his approval, even though I don't really need it.

Donna nods "We can see if we can find anything like it if you want."

Hugging her tightly I whisper my thanks into her ear making her laugh. "Once we've found shoes." Donna says "I would have thought you would have already been over there picking a million pairs of heels."

Poking my tongue out at her I shake my head "No, cause I had to wait for you all. And now that everyone is back we shall venture into shoe land."

Al grabs my hand and squeezes it, looking over her shoulder "I've got her so she doesn't disappear. If you see me vanishing grab me so I don't sink!"

I roll my eyes "I'm not that bad...actually forget I said that I am that bad. But I'm not buying any shoes today, not for myself anyway."

Donna lifts a hand, pressing her hand to my forehead "You don't feel hot. Are you feeling okay?"

"I'm fine; I just don't need any more shoes at the moment."

Donna shakes her head looking into my eyes "Are you sure you're okay?"

I laugh, dragging her and Al across to the shoe area of the store "I am sure I'm fine. I did already see the shoes I want you guys to wear if you agree."

Donna looks at the peep toe heels I pick up and frowns "I'll be falling on my ass in them."

Al leans over her shoulder looking at the heel "Nah, it just gives Opie an excuse to be by your side all night, to hold you up."

While the heels aren't high by my standard for my poor friend who almost always lives in sneakers as she runs after her twins they probably look a bit intimidating. "D, they're not really that high, try them on and if you can't walk in them I'll find something else."

Donna sighs, but sits down, swapping the ballet flats she had on for the black heels, standing up she wobbles for a second but the grin on her face shows me that she's doing it on purpose. Poking her in the side she laughs "Okay, so they're not that bad."

The four of them find shoes in their size, walking around the area a few times before it's unanimously decided that they're the right ones. I shake my head again when we end up in the lingerie department with a grin "I don't need any more, Jax still hasn't seen half of what I brought in New York, let alone what I already had."

Al smirks "Oh that boy is in for a shock."

I laugh, shaking my head again "I haven't tried any of it on with him around cause it wouldn't survive!"

5 black lacy underwear sets later we're finished, bar the trip to a jeweller to see if I can find similar jewellery for Lyla and Cherry. Piling everything onto the counter it all gets put into separate bags for each of them. Handing over the seldom used black card to pay for the whole lot I arch my eyebrow when Lyla and Cherry start protesting.

Al shakes her head and Donna sighs "You two are wasting your breath trying to talk her out of it. Just pay for coffee when she's done."

I nod "That sounds like a really good plan. I am running low on caffeine."

Over a cup of coffee it's decided that we'll all meet at TM in the morning, the garage has been closed since Wednesday afternoon and almost the entire work force has been commandeered to help the set up at the reservation for the party. I'd seen some of the orders for food and drink that Gemma had been putting it and it almost looked like she was planning the whole town to be there.

On the way to the airport to meet Cam's plane, and Happy, we stop by a jeweller and while I find bracelets that match perfectly the earrings and necklaces that I buy don't match those that Al, Cam and Donna have. Buying a bracelet for Gemma that goes with the earrings and necklace brought for her as a thank you gift we get back in the car and I mentally pat myself on the back at not having brought anything for myself.

Nearing the airport Al and I both groan when we see the traffic, it takes almost 10 minutes to find a park, I almost growl in frustration as we're walking towards the terminal when Happy calmly backs his bike into a space in front of a tiny car with a wheel clamp on it. With only Al and I that have left the car to greet Cam the three of us head towards the arrivals board, Happy making a sound of disgust when the fact Cam's flight has been delayed registers.

Glancing over at him I shrug "Guess it's lucky we weren't early then. She actually should have landed about 10 minutes ago."

Watching the plane land I lean into Happy's side "Thank you for agreeing to come to New York with us. I know you didn't have to."

Happy looks down, his dark eyes almost swallowing me "Don't fool yourself into thinkin' I'm goin' for anyone but you cupcake. You will be my number one priority above everything else, and if somethin' don't feel right then you know I'm gonna tell Jax."

Nodding silently the normally rough man reaches over and pats my hand lightly, the gesture slightly stiff "Besides, you asked, I wasn't gonna say no."

Looking up at him again I nod "Thank you."

"What for?" Happy lifts an eyebrow, his gaze darting towards the arrivals board where the flight Cam is on has just flicked to 'Arrived: Gate A04'.

"Everything. The shit you dealt with when I was being a snotty little brat, all the midnight rescues when Jax was being an asshole, all the stuff since I came back. All of it. I know I don't say it enough so; thank you."

Happy laughs "As long as you keep makin' me cupcakes we're all good."

Cam's one of the first people off the plane, one of the advantages to flying first class, the roller case she tows behind her and the backpack on her back all she brought with her for the two days she's in town. Hugging Al and I tightly she turns to Happy and I bite the inside of my lip to not laugh when they both do a lean forward then back off hug, never quite getting within arm's reach.

Elbowing Al I say softly "Maybe we should turn around so they can greet each other properly."

Cam throws her bag at me, setting her case on its bottom before wrapping her arms around Happy's neck, pulling his head down and gluing her lips to his. Al and I both pretend to find things to look at while their attention is fully focused on each other, the stream of people passing by and the noise level rising eventually have them passing, Cam's expression is slightly glazed and Hap has a pleased glint in the midnight depths of his eyes when he turns back to us.

Cam shakes her head slightly to clear whatever cobwebs were hanging around "So what's the plan?"

Al and I take her bags and start walking back to the car while I start talking "Hap's taking you back to Charming, I have a car full. We're gonna take your bags to TM and drop them there. We're meeting at TM at 9 tomorrow morning to go for brunch, just the 6 girls manicures and pedicures are booked for 1130 in Stockton. Gem said for us to be out at the reservation at 6, but the ceremony is at 630 so I'd like to get there a whole lot earlier. Are you still okay to do hair and makeup on us all?"

Cam nods, gesturing towards the suitcase I'm towing "That's got all the hair and makeup stuff in it. Can you get Cherry and Lyla to bring their foundations in; I don't know if I have colour matches."

"They're in the car, you can ask them yourself." Al says with a smile "Along with the dresses and shoes that we picked today."

Cam's eyes brighten but Hap stops by his bike "You can see them later. We're all goin' to the same place now so when we get there you can look. The last thing anyone wants to do the day before SAMCRO royalties wedding is have to go hunting for new shit to wear when someone drops a skirt in an airport car park."

My eyes widen at Happy as he hands Cam a helmet, never taking his eyes off what he's doing. After several seconds of silence he looks up "What?"

"SAMCRO royalty?" I say with a light frown.

"Yeah, the son of the founding President who is also step-son of the current Mother Charters President marrying said Pres' niece is national news cupcake. Members from almost every charter State wide arrived today, those that haven't will be pullin' into town tomorrow mornin' or face the wrath of Gemma. And seeing none of us want that, move your asses. And don't make me try and say that shit again, once was bad enough."