𝘯𝘦𝘸 𝘤𝘩𝘢𝘳𝘢𝘤𝘵𝘦𝘳 𝘪𝘯𝘵𝘳𝘰𝘥𝘶𝘤𝘵𝘪𝘰𝘯; 𝗚𝗶𝗻𝗻𝘆 𝗠𝘂𝗻𝘀𝗼𝗻 /𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗿𝗮𝘆𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗘𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗢𝘀𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁.

ᅳ

NOLA SMILED TO HERSELF as she walked two small steps behind Happy into the clubhouse, her fingers firmly resting between his while he gave her hand a gentle squeeze every now and then. She felt surprisingly good considering she had only given birth three days ago. Apart from the fact that she was still a little sore, she couldn't complain.

But probably also because Happy had been there all the time to help her, to make sure that she only had to do the bare minimum and he took care of the rest. Even when she had gotten ready earlier, Happy hadn't complained once about her taking longerᅳ whereas Alden had constantly insulted her or put pressure on her when she wasn't ready when he wanted her to.

These little things made her realize once again how lucky she was to have Happy, thanks to whose help she actually looked like a human again and not like a mess that had just been lying in bed for three days.

She had chosen a dress that was comfortable and stretchy. Nola had picked a black, long-sleeved dress that ended in the middle of her lower legs, sneakers and a leather jacket with fur inserts, as it was slowly getting cooler in Charming. Of course, a small belly was still visible, which Nola didn't even try to hide, after all, her daughter was the reason for itᅳ something she could be proud of.

In contrast to the last few days, her blonde hair flowed in waves over her shoulders instead of sitting in a messy bun on top of her head. She had even put on some make-upᅳ after all, she wanted to look good for Happy.

"Ah, here ye' finally are!" Chibs was the first and only one to approach the two and pulled Happy into a brotherly hug, slapping his back before pulling Nola into his arms. "Ye' look pretty good for a new mother."

"What's that supposed to mean?", she asked with an amused snort, returning the soft pressure of Chibs' hug before looking up at him with a grin. "I think I looked just as good in my sloppy look."

"You do always", Happy winked at her while squeezing her hand once more before placing the baby seat, which he had carried inside, on one of the tables. "Hey, I gotta check somethin' in my room. You got this here, little girl?"

With curiosity in her blue orbs, Nola eyed her Old Man, nodding slightly. "Sure, and besides, I'm not alone. What do you have to check on?"

"Aye, let the man do his thing and introduce me t' the little princess instead", Chibs suggested, his accent thick as he swung an arm around her shoulders and winked at Happy, whereupon the SAA disappeared into the hallway that led to the dorms with a grateful nod of his head. "By the way, the others will be here soon. Jax needed the boys and Gemma's picking up the cake with Tara."

"Do you guys have something to hide?" Nola narrowed her eyes, obviously questioning the behavior of the two menᅳ but if they didn't want to give anything away, they wouldn't. "You even ordered a cake for today? Why? I could've baked something."

"Ye' really are yer' father's daughter", Chibs said  with a laugh, shaking his head without even answering her first question. "Let us spoil you, Hap and the kid, Nola. Now, can I finally see the wee lass?"

When Chibs looked almost offended that he hadn't seen Ruby yet, Nola chuckled and scooped her daughter out of the baby seat to hand her to the Scotsman. "Here you go. Be careful, she might spit on you, she's just had a bottle."

"Aye, I think I can handle that", Chibs smirked before looking down at the little creature in his arms, the corners of his mouth twitching up in a wistful smile. "Ah, she looks just like you. Also reminds me of my Kerrianne. You must be proud, aye?"

"Oh, I am. I've never felt so proud in my life before", Nola replied with a sincere smile, sinking into the chair behind her. "Isn't Dad here yet either?"

Chibs shook his head, rocking the girl in his arms as he paced around. "No, he's got little surprise he has to pick up for ye'."

Nola snorted a laugh, but her fingertips were already tingling with anticipation. "I've been gone for three days and y'all acting weird as hell all of a sudden."

"We missed ye' too, lass", was Chibs' only reply that fell from his lips with a grin, drawing another soft laugh from Nola as she watched the interaction between the Scot and her cooing daughter.

ᅳ

THE LITTLE PARTY was in full swing. Laughter was shared, old stories of SAMCRO members' children were told to prepare Nola and Happy for the joys of parenthood, and the best part of it all was that Ginny was there too. The visit had apparently been planned behind her back by Bobby while she was still in the hospital.

"God, I could look at her all day", Ginny cooed down at the baby in her arms as she had a brief moment alone with her sister while the others were engaged in another conversation, her pupils probably heart-shaped from how cute she thought her niece was. "Makes me not want to leave again."

"Well, don't", Nola said boldly, shrugging her shoulders with a smile as she sipped her coke. "You were already thinking about moving here last time, why don't you just do it?"

"I don't know, maybe I'm too chicken for stuff like that?" Wiggling her eyebrows, a grin formed on Ginny's lips. "But besides my sweet niece and my favorite sister, there are other beautiful things here."

"Then jump over your shadow! I would love to have you here, and little Ruby would love that too", the slightly younger blonde said with a chuckle before lifting an eyebrow after she had followed Ginny's gaze. Snorting a laugh, she brought the glass to her mouth. "Jax? Really?"

"What? He's hot", Ginny said defensively, straightening her shoulders while still rocking Ruby in her arms. "Have you ever looked at him closely? And that voice, that cocky grin andᅳ"

"And he's taken", said a clipped voice behind them, causing Nola to freeze as Tara slammed her glass onto the table with a dull thud. "Don't you have better things to do than talk about taken men?"

Nola put down her glass with a sigh and rubbed the bridge of her nose with her crooked index finger. "Taraᅳ"

"No, it's enough", the doctor hissed quietly, but she still got Happy's and Jax' attention because they were sitting closest. "You of all shouldn't say anything. Do you even have your own life under control? Instead of sorting things out between you and your ex, you grab the next criminal, a killer at that. Haven't you learned anything from your last relationship?"

"Tara, that's enough. You're not talking about my brothers like that", Jax warned, his stern gaze directed at the brunette. "Just go home if you don't wanna be here."

"Can you take my side for once, Jax? Those two were talking shit!" Tara crossed her arms like a pouting child, but a shiver ran down her spine when Happy's cold, dark eyes met hers.

Clearing her throat, Nola stood up, looking Tara up and down with disdain. "We were just having a lighthearted conversation and Ginny couldn't have known that Jax was takenᅳ it's not like you're trying to act like his Old Lady. No, instead you're sitting in a corner sulking because you don't even want to be here."

A smile crept onto Nola's face as she felt Happy's presence behind her, his hand resting on her lower back. "And if you compare Happy to Alden ever again, you better not come face to face with me again."

"You have no right to tell me what to do", Tara sneered, her blood boiling as no one seemed to come to her aid, even her own husband, who just rubbed a hand over his face with an exhausted sigh. "You know what, if no one wants me here, I'm out!"

The doctor snorted again as no one actually tried to stop her, instead all eyes were on her, most of them just disappointed looks. She cursed indistinctly under her breath as she snatched her bag from one of the bar stools and stormed out of the clubhouse.

Sighs, murmurs and Ruby's soft cries echoed through the main room as the door slammed shut, definitely leaving a certain tension in the air. But Ginny quickly managed to calm her niece down.

Nola took a deep breath as she sank against Happy's chest, her eyes wandering around the room. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to start a fight, not after you all organized this for us."

"Not your fault, little girl", Happy rasped with a serious look as he rubbed his thumb against her back, wrinkling the fabric of her dress. "She decided to start shit, you just talked back."

The Munson woman smiled slightly as she looked up at Happy and saw the proud look in his eyes. "Thanks baby, but I could've just kept my mouth shut."

"No, that's not always the solution", Bobby intervened, standing behind Ginny now, his hand resting on her shoulder. "You didn't do anything wrongᅳ neither of you."

"Well, sort of", Ginny drawled, followed by a sigh, and shot Jax an apologetic look. "I should have paid more attention, but I really didn't know you had an Old Lady. So, I'm sorry if I pissed her off."

Although everyone had introduced themselves earlier, no one had mentioned that Tara and Jax were together and they hadn't seemed like a couple, so she had assumed that the blonde was single; otherwise she would've never said what she had said.

"It's okay, darlin'", Jax winked in her direction, his smile genuine. "You didn't do it on purpose, don't worry about Tara."

Gemma watched the brief exchange with eagle eyes, an almost satisfied smile crossing her features as Ginny's cheeks turned a soft red. She also noticed that her son was having a hard time looking awayᅳ and that had been the case ever since Ginny had arrived a few hours ago.

"You know what? Why don't we just forget about that little scene and keep celebrating?", the matriarch suggested, sliding off Nero's lap and starting to place pieces of the remaining cake onto fresh paper plates. "There's no room for drama today."

"Sounds good to me", Tig said with a shrug, pushing his way forward with Juice to grab the first plate, both of them acting like two little boys trying to be first. "And doll, Tara's coming around, just wait", he added once he had grabbed the plate, flashing Juice a dirty grin.

Nola smiled at the scene, grateful that no one seemed to be mad at her or Ginny. "Yeah, probably, I'll talk to her again tomorrow."

"That's a plan, lass", smiled Chibs, raising his bottle to toast Bobby and Jax who also held up their bottles. "But today is about the two of ye' and the wee lass."

As everyone fell back into their previous conversation, Happy pulled his Old Lady onto his lap after he had sat down again and planted a few gentle kisses against her neck. "I'm proud of you, little girl."

The croak in his gravelly voice gave Nola goosebumps, and she closed her eyes as she felt his hot breath on her neck. "Why? I didn't do anything."

"You stood up for yourself, even for me", he grunted appreciatively, slipping his arm around her waist. When she looked down at him, a corner of his mouth lifted. "You're my Old Lady, which means you don't have to take shit from anyone, you hear me? Not even from another Old Lady."

"I would always stand up for you, Hap", Nola replied firmly, placing her lips on his. With a small smile, she leaned her forehead against his, his words really meaningful to her. "I can't wait to finally wear your crow."

Happy rubbed her thigh, his smile turning into a grin. "As soon as you're fully recovered, giving you my crow is the first thing I'll do."

"Well, I hope so", she replied in a duh-tone, chuckling softly as Happy's other hand came to rest on her ass, squeezing it. "You know we're not alone, right?"

"And you know I don't give a shit", he croaked against her lips, placing his other hand on the back of her neck to pull her in for a proper kiss. The kiss was raw, full of emotion and passion that left them both breathless. "Got something for you later, by the way", he finally rasped against her now slightly swollen lips.

"What? Why? Today is my turn to surprise you", she gasped in mock offense before locking eyes with him, a curious glimmer in her own. "Do I get a hint?"

"Mine was planned for a while. You'll survive not being the only one with a surprise." After a raspy laugh rumbled through his chest, the grin was back on his face, his fingertips buried in her hairline. "Nope, no hint. You have to be patient."

"That's not fair", the blonde whined, pouting slightly as she wrapped her arms around his neck. "You're mean, you know that?"

"Whine a little harder and I'll make you wait even longer", Happy croaked teasingly against her ear, his grin widening when he heard his Old Lady just huff out a snort, followed by a laugh.

He placed another kiss against her neck before wrapping his arms around her, the slightest smile taking over his face as Nola snuggled into his arms and took the plate Gemma handed her.

Until now he had been able to hide the nervousness inside him, but it got harder to keep up his facade the later it got. His surprise could either make her the happiest woman or scare her awayᅳ it was a fifty-fifty chance.

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