Chapter 3

They had driven through the night. He had thought about stopping over night but Nicole's answer was just that she wanted to go home and Happy had to agree with her, so they stopped for some food, which he noticed Nicole had just pushed around her plate where V-Lin and Phil inhaled there's. Happy wanted to comment but was aware that they weren't alone.

Happy kept stealing glances towards her but Nicole had just been drifting in an out of sleep.

As he pulled the truck into her drive Nicole was still sleeping so quietly he existed the van. He instructed Phil and V-Lin to stay with her as he went inside to check the house. Happy wasn't risking anything. Although it was all clear, he stalled at the bedroom. All the evidence of the drama that unfolded between them still there. Happy cursed himself she didn't need to see this.

Walking back out the room he headed outside. He glanced at Nicole she was still asleep. Sighing he walked around the truck towards her carefully opening the passenger door, Nicole stirred. He watched as she took in the surrounding and clearly realised that she was home. But there was going to be a change to the plan.

"We're heading to the clubhouse." Happy spoke as he watched Nicole straighten in her seat.

"Why?"

"Rooms a mess." Nicole furrowed her brows until the realisation hit. Nicole closed her eyes at the memory. She could still feel his fingers on her throat if she thought it was a nightmare the yellow bruises on throat showed the truth. But Nicole just wanted to be in her own home, in her own bed.

"I don't care I just want to be in my own home Hap. Please." Happy wanted to put his foot down but if he was honest he didn't want to go to the clubhouse anymore than she did so he relented.

"Ok." Happy answered with a nod.

Nicole watched as Happy walked over to Phil and V-Lin. She watched them exchange words before they both disappeared inside. She watched as he made his way back over to her.

"Come on." Happy directed holding his hand out and helping her out of the truck before snagging her bag.

He walked her into the house and Nicole had to admit that she was grateful for this softer side of Happy because the last time she had seen before the accident he had been so angry with her.

Instead of heading to the bedroom Happy led her to the couch. She didn't argue.

"Rest here for a bit." Nicole nodded before Happy disappeared back to the kitchen. When he returned he was carrying a bottle of water and a breakfast bar. "Here." He spoke handing her the items. "Eat." Nicole knew that wasn't a request so again she nodded before Happy disappeared again this time to the bedroom.

Happy looked around. Between the 3 of them they had cleared the room the best they could. The dresser stood no hope so Happy just made a mental note to get another one. For now the contents were just piled in the corner.

With the room tided he gave the order to leave but before Phil left he asked him to hang back. Happy closed the gap between them.

Phil had been around a lot in Tacoma, he was almost in her room as much as Happy was. Happy appreciated the loyalty that Phil seemed to have for Nicole but at the same time it did leave a bad taste in his mouth. This loyalty had also lead to Phil overhearing an update from the doctor on the babies heartbeat. Happy hadn't said anything at the time he was sure the look he gave him was enough but now they were back in Charming he needed to say it.

"Shit you may have heard, bout her..."

"I havent said anything to no one." Phil spat in fear. Happy nodded.

"Keep it that way."

Before they headed to Tacoma Phil had stepped into the kitchen ready to help Nicole with her bags but he stopped when he heard Happy's raised voice and Nicole cry out and then an almighty crash. Phil thought about going to the bedroom but he decided against it. He had been around the Sons long enough now to know that you didn't get involved in family. So Phil backed out of the kitchen.

When Happy had left Phil found Nicole in a heap and she was hurt, but again Phil knew that it was not his place to judge, but he liked Nicole and he wanted to help her, so he patched her up.

What had caused the fight between them Phil was unsure but he was shocked because he had witnessed Happy and Nicole together even before they were public and Happy, well Happy was different with her and Phil, despite Happy's reputation, he never thought he would lay hands on Nicole. But the reason became clear in Tacoma, Nicole was pregnant.

So Phil nodded to Happy's request.

With a silent agreement between the two brothers Happy watched as Phil walk down the hall before disappearing from sight. Happy couldn't fault Phil, he was a good kid.

Following the path of Phil Happy moved down the hall, rounding the corner he found Nicole fast asleep on the couch. His eyes moved to the table where he saw the empty wrapper. She ate something. Gently scooping her up he carried her back to their newly cleaned room, kicking back the covers he placed her in the bed.

He found himself just looking at her. When he found out about the kid, that she was going to kill it without even telling him he had been furious , he had seen red, but if he was honest with himself it was more about the lies. She had lied to him again. But somehow he fell for the so called princess of Samcro and he knew that she would be forever under his skin and he knew he would never let her go especially now she was carrying his baby.

Happy was pulled from his thoughts when he heard a rumble of a bike, heading out of the bedroom he closed the door behind him so the noise didn't wake Nicole. Hearing a knock on the door Happy was not surprised when he opened it to find Jax on the other side.

'Hey." Happy just nodded and stepped away from the door and over to the fridge Jax entering behind him closing the door before looking around. "Where is she?"

"Sleeping." Happy responded giving Jax a beer and taking a seat at the little white table. Jax followed.

"Looks like you could do with some yourself." Happy shrugged, he could sleep when he was dead. Years on the road he had learnt to survive on the bare minimum. "How is she? Jax continued knowing he wasn't going to get an answer.

"Healing." Jax nodded. Happy raised a brow. Happy wasn't the only one who was looking tired. Jax looked exhausted. "Tara?" Happy asked before taking a pull on his beer.

"Lowan is working on it. Bail hearing tomorrow." Truth was Jax didn't know much more as Tara was refusing to see or speak to him, which was pissing him off. Lowan kept telling him that she was doing ok but he needed to see that for himself, especially when Lowan dropped the bombshell that Tara thought that Gemma was the one behind this.

"And Clay?"

"He's in PC." Jax took a moment to light his cigarette.

Happy nodded his head. It was good that Clay was inside it meant he was away from Nicole, he couldn't get to her. But there was something about the way Jax was looking at him. There was something else.

"What is it?" Jax smirked. You couldn't get anything past Happy Lowman.

"Lyla." This caught Happy's attention he wasn't expecting to hear that name. Ever since Opie's death they all swore, took an oath to protect his family, but Happy also knew that Lyla and Nicole were close and his girl didn't need any more stress.

"What?"

"She took a gig, turned out to be torture porn, she didn't know. She's hurt. We're heading there in morning. I need you with us brutha." Happy was going to be there without a doubt but he couldn't help look over his shoulder in the direction of her room, and Jax noticed this. "We'll bring her to the clubhouse. I won't let her get hurt again."

Happy nodded. But he knew she had to go to St Thomas tomorrow, but Phil also knew their secret. So he would speak to him.

"I'm there." Happy rasped. "But she needs Phil on her. She has to go to hospital."

"Thought she was ok?"

"Check up." Happy offered not willing to give anymore information and Jax could sense this and just nodded before he spoke again.

"There's something else." Happy brows furrowed.

Nicole stirred when she felt a pain in her side. Wincing as she sat up, her hand went to her stitches but as she moved she realised that that she was in bed alone. Her eyes drifted to the clock it was 3:41am. Sliding out of bed grabbing the hoddie that was at the end of the bed she wrapped it around her and couldn't help but pause as she inhaled Happy's scent.

Opening the bedroom door she saw the light coming from the lounge. Bare footed she tiptoed down the hall suddenly realising how cold it was.

"Hap..."

From his hunched position, Happy looked over his shoulder when he heard her voice. His eyes narrowed on her, she looked worried and if he had to guess in pain, but he noticed that her eyes were not fixed on him but rather his cut that lay on the small coffee table.

"What's going on?" She asked but Happy just replied with his own question.

"You al'right?"

Nicole nodded. Seeing him she had quickly forgotten her pain. She was more concerned about what he was doing.

Knowing he wasn't going to get an answer he shifted on the couch opening a space for her which she cautiously took. Her arms wrapped around her. Happy grabbed his cut off the table.

"Sergeant- at- Arms." Nicole spoke looking at the fresh badge on his cut. Her eyes turned to Happy "Does that mean Chibs..." Happy quickly shook his head.

"He's VP"

"Bobby?" Her voice was calm and her face emotionless and it just reminded him how club she actually was. Which is why he could be honest with her.

"Your attack it was Pope blowback. He's dead. Tig killed him. He needed to die." Again Nicole remained still but her eyes gave her fear away even if just for a second. He understood it though she almost died because of this blowback. "Jax framed Clay. He's in county."

"What does this have to do with Bobby?"

"Jax made the play behind the clubs back. Behind Bobby's back."

"He figured it out?" Happy nodded.

"He's hit the road."

"Jesus Christ."

Hearing the news about Bobby made her nervous. Bobby was Jax's guide, and he needed that, Jax was losing his way, she witnessed it first hand when he lay hands on her at the clubhouse. That was not the President of Samcro she knew, that was not her cousin. She shuddered at the memory.

She knew that Chibs would be make a good VP but she knew that his loyalty to Jax may cloud the sense. And now Happy was his SAA.

For years she had be witness to what that role meant. Happy was an enforcer always had been but taking that seat, that badge, Nicole knew exactly what it meant, what was expected. If a kill was meant for Jax it would be Happy who took it.

Happy could tell that she was getting into her head. He lay his cut back on the table. But before he could say anything Nicole spoke.

"I know this is what you want. What Jax wants..." Nicole paused her hand going to her stomach. "But we're going to have a kid Hap."

"Nothin's gonna happen to the kid."

"You say that but..."

"You either trust me or you don't" Happy snapped cutting her off and Nicole knew that this conversation was over so she got to her feet.

"I trust you."

As she went to walk away she felt him grab her hand. When she turned to face him she realised that he was now on his feet and the gap between them closed.

"Hap." His name fell from her lips. But her eyes fell to the floor as she tried to hide her tears, but Happy had other thoughts and hooked his finger under her chin forcing her to look at him.

"Let me do my job." Happy snapped. She was going to be the mother of his kid which meant that she wasn't going anywhere and she needed to accept. that.

"Go to bed." Happy rasped "We need to be at the clubhouse in the morning." He watched her frown asking a silent question. "It's Lyla."

"Is she ok?"

"No. It's late go to bed. I'll explain in the mornin." Nicole knew that she wasn't going to get anymore out of him but she was a bit surprised when he started walking back to the couch and as he settled back down it was clear to Nicole that she would be sleeping alone.