Author's Note: Hey guys I fucked up the time sequence so I had to rework chapter seven because I got ahead of myself. Abel is still in the hospital until the next chapter. Also, we get some more Happy POV in this chapter!

Chapter Nine

Tacoma, Washington

SAMTAC Clubhouse

Happy

Dismounting my bike, I sigh and rub my face before heading into the clubhouse. This fucker chomo is a slippery asshole. I almost got him but he had some bitch and a kid with him. I seriously question that bitches morals if she allows him around her kid, but hey, not my business. He's just a payday.

" Sweet Butt! " I call out to whatever bitch is working the bar tonight. " Get me a beer and keep 'em coming. "

I've been back for a fucking week and all I can do is throw myself into club business and this fucking crow. It's either that or constantly thinking about what Reese is doing in Charming. Fucking gash really has my nose wide open like a fucking dog. Pulling out my sketchbook, I take the drawing I've been working on out and almost smile.

" Whatchu drawing, man? " Koz asks from over my shoulder. " Is that a crow? "

Slapping the side of his head I flip it over. " Mind your fucking business. "

" Hey, I think it's a good thing. " He defends with his hands up. " Who is it? Lana? No- Rachel. Hell, any of the bitches from Jury's I'd be willing to lock down if they'd be willing to leave the life. "

I snort. As if I'd settle down with a whore for hire. " None of those used-up bitches. "

" Then who? Jaycee? You go a few rounds with Jax for that? " He asks stupidly.

Stilling, I grind out, " Jayce is just like a brother. We all know the rules. "

" Rules are made to be broken. " He says as if he'd ever cross the president of the mother charter. " The things I'd do to her... "

Having enough of his bullshit I growl, " you trying to go a few rounds in the ring, Koz "?

I'm down for all the dirty talk about bitches... But that's only bitches. Jaycee isn't a kutte chaser and she has way more self-respect. Besides, the first time I met her she was like twelve. I was twenty-four. True that Reese is the same age but I didn't know her as a child. I don't have the memory of her running around with pigtails catching geikos in the woods behind TM.

" I'm just saying... She's the finest piece of ass in all charters. "

It's then that I can't stand his mouth any longer. Jaycee has been through hell and back. She doesn't need any asshole talking about her like she's a fucking sweet butt. My fist connects with his jaw with a sickening crack. He doesn't hold back on me, throwing a few punches and connecting with my ribs.

We go at it for a few minutes before a few brothers crowd around and pull us apart. It takes three to hold me back but I still snarl out, " you watch your fucking mouth when you talk about her "!

The next thing I know we're both being dragged into the Chapel. The brothers leave us there alone with Lee who's not impressed.

" In club fighting? What was that about? " He asks with his arms folded.

Snorting I say, " just him getting what he deserved ".

" Just beating my ass because he doesn't like how I talk about Jaycee. " Koz mutters like a bitch. " Drawing a real nice crow for her too. "

I've never seen Lee's eyebrows raise so fast. " Jesus, Happy, Clay will have your balls. "

" Not, Jayce. " I tell him while flexing my fingers, ready to kick Koz's ass again. " Reese. Tig's oldest daughter. "

"Well, shit. " Lee says in surprise. " You're going after Reese Trager? I've seen her take out three bitches in five seconds. Hell, she took down Francis before he got smoked. God help you, that one is as crazy as her old man. "

Feeling the corner of my mouth twitch, I chuckle, " yeah ".

Lee's eyebrows raise in surprise. " Don't tell me you're thinking of taking her as your old lady. "

" Yeah, I think I am. " I say with a nod. " It gets tiring trying to pick the least rode bitch to get my rocks off. "

" More than think. " Koz opens his fat mouth once more. " He's drawing up her crow. "

I throw another punch, hitting Koz directly in the jaw. " Get the fuck out. " I yell before giving him the bums rush out into the bar.

" Good to know you aren't going soft on me. " Lee comments from behind.

Turning back around I meet his surprised eyes.

" I know after Sera... "

I give him a look that clearly says, " don't go there ". " Reese grew up in the life. Knows what it's about, how to show the proper respect, and stays in her place. Plus she has a mean right hook," I tell him while ignoring his last comment.

" Isn't she looking after that escort's kid? " He asks while rubbing his beard. " You know, the one that got-got at Jury's? "

Nodding I say, " yeah, Bri. She's a good kid. A pretty good basketballer. Even made the Charming Elementary basketball team. "

" You sure you're ready for such a responsibility? " He asks in all seriousness.

I nod again not trusting my own voice. " I'm sure I'm ready to have something to come home to. "

And that's the fucking truth. I'm fucking sick of sweet butts, crow eaters, and kutte chasers. I want what my brothers Sean and Carter have... A good woman in my corner no matter what. Always there to pick up the pieces and keep me strong and in check.

" Just tell me one thing, does she bring you peace? " Lee asks bringing me out of my thoughts.

Shaking my head I repeat, " peace "?

" A good old lady is a peace bringer for her old man. " He clarifies. " We're the protectors, they're the ones that make it worth coming home to protect. We see and do shit out there that we have to learn to live with. Especially you. The woman you choose as yours has to be able to help forget even if just for a little while. It's fucking hard to find and that's why we have sweet butts. "

I could fuck through every whore in all seven chapters and it still wouldn't dull the memory of Reese Trager. " The kid is cool like I said. She's family and I take care of my family. "

Lee nods in understanding. " You have my full blessing, Hap. "

" Thanks... I've actually been thinking of going NOMAD. " I tell him before realizing what it sounds like. " Not just for Reese, you know my Mom is pretty sick so she needs me more than before. "

He sighs. " Can't say I didn't see it coming. How long until you plan on switching? "

" Maybe a week or two. Enough time to settle shit here. " I promise. " You know I'd never leave without finishing a job. "

Lee nods while rubbing his chin. " You're down for the MC, I know that. I'll give Quinn a call. Your transfer should be finalized once this job is done. Just make sure we get the invites to the wedding. "

The " wedding ". Damn. I haven't thought about marriage in my entire life. Much to my mother's displeasure. Now here I am prepared to give her my last name if that's what she wants. It's crazy that one sentence set me down this path.

Eat it or have it shoved down your throat.

Fucking sexy. I forgot all about the whore I spent the night with and cleaned my plate just to make her happy... Fuck, I should have claimed her before I left. I just wanted to get this transfer out of the way.

Charming, California

St. Thomas

Three Days Later

Sassi

Rushing into St. Thomas I get a few weird looks but it's not really my concern. I can't believe it has taken so long for this day to happen. I'm finally meeting the newest Teller—the first to be born since Jaycee.

Getting off of the elevator at the NICU, I sign in at the desk and take a name tag.

" Sass! Come and meet your cousin. " Jaycee calls from down the hall.

I pad over excitedly not being able to wait a moment longer to meet Jax's son. Wow, he's so small. He probably could fit in the palm of one of Uncle Clay's hands.

Aunt Gemma sets the tiny bundle in my arms with a proud smile. " Hi, Abel, I'm your cousin Sassi. You're a tiny one, huh? But you're gonna get even bigger and stronger. Yeah. "

And I put that on my own life. This little Teller will live a long and healthy life.

" Of course he is, he's a Teller. " Tara says while looking at him lovingly.

Gemma nods. " Teller's persevere, we all know that. "

" Damn, right. " Jaycee chimes in with a huge smile.

Gemma taps her chin for a moment." Speaking of persevering, where's Bri? "

" Basketball practice. " I say proudly.

Jaycee smiles widely. " She made the team? "

" Good for her. " Gemma says as I hand Abel back over. " It's good for kids to play sports. Get the pent-up energy out. This one is a footballer I just know it. "

Huffing I say, " the thing is, the school is expecting more of a commitment from me than the last one she was in. I was asked to join the PTA. "

" That's good news. You can really put down roots here for her. " She says with a knowing smile. " There's stability in staying in one place when you have kids. Bri is lucky to have someone that is so selfless. "

Let's be honest though... Having money on paper due to the modeling and restorations is the only reason she didn't enter the system. Not that I'm complaining or anything. Bri and I are good together and have a working understanding.

She does what she's supposed to do and so do I. Meaning, she stays a kid for as long as possible. In return, I make sure the seedier things the club gets up to are never in her view. As far as she's concerned the garage and brothel are the only revenue SAMHILL has.

Of course, there are other ways they make money, but hopefully, she won't know about that until she's old enough to understand. And that's not for another decade at least. Even then information will be on a need-to-know basis.

Snap! Snap!

" Earth to, Sassi. " Jaycee calls out.

Shaking my head I ask, " sorry what did you say "?

" I asked when was the last time you heard from Happy. " She says with a smirk.

Gemma's ears perk at the mention of the outlaw. " Happy? You two stay in touch? "

" He checked in a few days ago... " I tell her while cutting my eyes to Jaycee. " He went on a run and isn't sure when he'll be able to check in again. "

Doing her best to be nonchalant, she says, " so things getting serious "?

Shooting Jaycee another look I say, " we're just feeling things out ".

" I wasn't aware of this development. " She says simply but still with a gleam of satisfaction in her eyes.

I would have preferred it to stay that way. I so do not need the mother hen of SAMCRO all in my personal shit with Happy. She gets away with being a buttinsky way too much around here as it is. Practically salivating right in front of us at the thought of the two of us together. It's fucking weird. What's going on between us is our business.

No one but Jaycee knows that he plans on giving me his crow and it will stay that way until we decide to tell others.