His expression was serious, his eyes holding mine. "This isn't somethin' I've chosen lightly," he said calmly, but I could feel him struggling with it, too. "I know." I mouthed. "And I wouldn't keep it from ye if I had another way," he added. I swallowed. "I know that, too," I told him; I could hear my voice crack. "But I hate it," I said, feeling sad. He reached for my hand. "I know, lass," he quietly replied. I let him take it. For a few seconds, I couldn't speak. All I could think about was the clubhouse outside that door. Juice laughing. Bobby arguing with Tig. Happy pretending not to care about Opie's engagement while clearly listening to every word. Clay trying to keep the club together. All those men who had become part of my life in ways I hadn't expected. And they were going to be taken away. I looked up at Chibs. "What happens to the club?" I asked, looking him deep in the eyes. "Im taking over with Opie and Piney helping me. "And the boys?" I asked, slightly knowing they wouldn't be able to do anything while there inside. "We'll look after them," Chibs replied with a tiny shrug. "And me?" I asked, and Chibs slightly tilted his head, and I saw his expression soften. "Ye'll have me," he replied. That was when my eyes filled. I hated it. I hated that he could say something so simple and make it feel like the only thing keeping me standing. I stepped into his arms. He wrapped his arms around me immediately, holding me close. I pressed my face against his chest. "I'm scared." I quietly told him. His hand moved slowly over my back. "Aye." I heard him grumble. "I don't want them to go," I whispered. "I know," he replied. "What if things change?" I asked. "They will,"  he replied. I pulled back enough to look at him. He brushed a tear from my cheek. "But change doesnae mean we lose each other," he added. I shook my head. "You can't promise that," I told him. "No," he said. His voice was quiet. "But I can promise ye that I'll do everything I can to keep our family together," he added. I searched his face. Then nodded slowly. It wasn't the answer I wanted. But it was the truth. And I needed the truth from him, even when it hurt. I wrapped my arms around his waist again. He kissed the top of my head. For a while, we simply stood there. No jokes. No teasing. No pretending everything was alright. Just my husband holding me while the world outside the room carried on as if nothing had changed. Eventually, I drew a shaky breath. "Do they all know?" I asked. Chibs nodded, and I understood I was one of the last ones this was gonna happen to. "Gemma?" I asked, and Chibs nodded. "Yeah, she realized something was going on," Chibs replied, and I let out a breath. "Jesus, Chibs," I whispered. "You could have told me earlier," I added. I pulled away and wiped my cheeks. "We can't let them face this alone." I finally said after a pause. Chibs watched me carefully. "Riley..." he quietly said. "I'm serious," I told him. "I know ye are," he softly said. "They're my family, Chibs. Every single one of them." I told him not to touch him, just looking at him. I looked toward the door. "And if they're going to prison, I'm not going to spend whatever time we have left pretending everything's fine," I added. His expression softened with something that looked almost like pride. "That's my girl," he said. I gave him a watery smile. "Besides, someone has to stop Tig from doing something stupid," I added, although I knew there wasn't much I could do, but still I wanted to try. Chibs finally laughed. "Aye. There's that," he said, and I felt myself smile too. I leaned against him again. Then, quietly, I asked the question I'd been afraid to ask. "When?" I asked into his chest. His smile disappeared. "Soon," he replied. "Very soon," he added. I nodded. One word. Four letters. And somehow, it made the future feel closer than ever. I rested my hand against my stomach. Our baby was still growing. Our life was still waiting to be lived. And the people we'd built that life around were about to be taken away from us. Chibs covered my hand with his. "We'll get through it, lass," he softly said, and I felt his hands on my back. I looked up at him. "Together?" I quietly asked. He kissed my forehead. "Always," he replied. I held onto him for another moment before finally stepping back. Then I took his hand. "Come on." I softly said. He raised an eyebrow. "Where are we goin'?" he asked. "Back out there." I replied, nodding to the door. "Riley—" I cautiously said. "They deserve to enjoy their morning a little longer." I said looking at the door where a little of the noise came through. I squeezed his fingers. "And so do we." I added. He studied me for a moment, then nodded. We walked back toward the clubhouse together. The laughter was still there. The coffee was still hot. Abel was still babbling happily in Gemma's arms, completely unaware of the trouble surrounding the people who loved him. Opie was still engaged. Juice was still arguing with Tig. For a few more minutes, the world looked exactly as it had before. I slipped my arm through Chibs's. And I smiled. Not because everything was alright. But because, for now, we were still together. And I intended to make every moment count. Outside, it was loud, a lot of laughing. I needed air. Not clubhouse air, which usually smelled like leather, motor oil, stale beer, and whatever Tig had decided to burn in the kitchen. Actual air. Quiet air. The kind where nobody asked me questions I didn't have answers to.