Cassie blinked a few times as the bright light in her apartment shone directly in her face. It was definitely too bright for her liking. Why hadn't she swapped out the bulb for a warmer color? And why was her light on anyway? She shook it off, sure she'd just forgotten to turn it off before leaving the apartment and go to the party next door.

Shaking her head, she slipped off her black boots and shuffled into the kitchen to get something cold to drink from the fridge. But before she could do that, she took a sharp breath and, after a brief shock, supported herself with one hand on the kitchen counter.

"What the fuck, Happy?", she hissed at the man sitting casually in her kitchen, her little brother with a scowl on his face and crossed arms right next to the infamous 'Tacoma Killer'. You should mean a fifteen year old would be intimidated by such a man. But no, not her brother. Instead of being scared shitless, Benny sat there pouting like a small child.

"And what the hell did he do this time?", she added with a groan. After the little shock had worn off, she got a bottle of soda out of the fridge and took a big gulp, running the back of her hand over her chin after a drop of the soda ran past the corner of her mouth before getting the leftover pizza. After a few bites, she turned back around and raised her brow.

"No one's gonna give me an answer?", she asked, biting into her piece of pizza again.

"She's baked as fuck. How am I supposed to be normal with a stoner sister and a brother that doesn't give a shit?", Benny's tone was cocky and far away from respectful, which earned him a slap on the back of his head from Happy.

"The fuck? You can't hit me, I'm still a kid", he said defensively.

"You think I give a shit? If you're old enough to insult your family you're old enough to bear the consequences", Happy grunted, not impressed at all by the teenager's lousy excuse.

"Can you behave for once, Benny?" Cassie rolled her eyes, a sigh of annoyance slipped past her lips. Throwing the piece of pizza, that didn't taste good at all anymore, into the sink she hopped on the counter and gave Happy a small smile. "Welcome home by the way."

"Good to be back", he replied with the slightest smile, a smile that was barely visible. Yet it was there.

With his dark orbs, he eyed her up and down. The last time he had seen her she was still blonde and not as high as a kite. It was still the same woman he knew, his best friend⸺ but still so different. He had known her since she was a child herself, witnessed her darkest moments and always admired her strength. But now she was sitting on the kitchen counter and could hardly keep her eyes open because she was stoned as fuck.

James, her older brother and his best friend, had told him about her deep fall. But with club shit, problems with his Old Lady and personal shit James had his hands full already and not much time to look after his sister. That's why he called Happy, knowing the man was the only one that Cassie trusted enough to talk about her problems.

"I didn't do shit! I don't even know why I'm here", the fifteen year old scoffed, putting his feet on the table.

"Get your feet off the table", Happy and Cassie groaned simultaneously that only made the teenager roll his eyes. But at least he listened and got his feet off the table.

"You got arrested. Wanna tell me again you didn't to shit?", Happy huffed. He had no idea how to talk to kids, especially not teenager, but he sure as hell was loosing his patience with this one.

"Wait, you got what?!" Cassie jumped off the counter, almost tripping over her own feet as she made her way over to the table. "What the hell did you to this time? Who bailed you out?"

"Well, Happy did. I couldn't call mom, she's pissed enough already!" Suddenly Benny became subdued and rubbed the back of his neck with an embarrassed smile.

The raven haired woman ran a hand over her face, totally forgetting about the make up she wore. Luckily it didn't smudge. She wanted to be angry at Benny but she couldn't, not with their past. It wasn't entirely his fault he became a cocky, bold, criminal teenager.

When their father died ten years ago James took custody of Cassie, who was only fifteen at that time. It was impossible to get custody for Benny, too, since he was only five at that time. The authorities didn't think James was able to take care of a teenager and a small child. So, Benny ended up with his mother in Stockton, California. No one understood how anyone in the world would give their mother custody for a child. That woman couldn't even take care of herself.

James made sure to pick up Benny as often as he could, taking him with him to Tacoma for a few weeks every three or four months. Their mother didn't care much. It was a win-win situation for everyone. James and Cassie were able to spend time with their younger brother and their mother had enough time to relax or to do whatever.

Two years ago Benny started to act differently. The then thirteen year old found a new group of friends, started to hang out with the wrong people and was drawn into a world that literally screamed for excitement. He got arrested for drug possession two times, five finger discount and if that wasn't enough, he also got arrested for assault.

Cassie, who worked as a nurse at that time, called their mother and asked if Benny could live with her in Tacoma. The teenager showed up at her apartment a while ago, telling her that he couldn't live there anymore since Katherine wasn't quite the mom a kid wanted. Abusive, alcoholic and not loving at all. But Katherine refused to let her son go since he was the one bringing home money⸺ at fifteen Benny was responsible for his mother, that's not how it should be.

"What did you do this time? I just want to know", she plopped down on the last free chair with a sigh, holding her head up with her hands. God, the headache was killing her.

"Five finger discount", the teenager admitted with a shrug.

"Why can't you stop with the stealing, Benny?!" Her hand came down to the table, causing the teenager to flinch slightly. He wasn't used to his sister getting irritated so easily.

"I was fucking hungry! That bitch ain't doing shit at home, Cassie. She never cooks, never cleans. I didn't have enough money left to buy food", Benny stated defensively, looking at his sister with watery eyes after jumping to his feet. "You have any idea how embarrassing it is to explain that to anyone? I was ashamed to ask for help, that's why I stole a stupid piece of bread and canned food!"

Cassie's jaw dropped, her mouth open but not a word came out of it. The guilt she felt towards him was big after learning the reason for the arrest. What kind of Cop was so heartless and arrested a starving fifteen year old for stealing a bit of canned food?

"That's why he called me, because he knew I wouldn't bring him back to that bitch", Happy decided to speak up and explain the rest of the story. "I wouldn't have bailed him out without your permission if he would've done something serious."

"Oh, fuck me", the young woman muttered while massaging her temples, desperately trying to ease the headache. With her blue eyes she looked over at her brother. At the moment he seemed like a small, scared child. No one saw that side of him that often. Basically, that's exactly what he was. An anxious, desperate child, just like she was at his age.

"I'm sorry, Benny", she said softly, reaching out her hand to grab his. "You can stay here as long as you want, okay? If you want you can get some rest in my room, I'll make us something to eat."

She didn't care if it was in the middle of the night. If her brother was hungry she'd make him something to eat. Unlike her mother, Cassie and James would never let their younger brother down.

"Thank you", he mumbled, tapping his fingers nervously on the table.

"Please thank Happy, too", Cassie smiled weakly. Manners mattered and Happy was the one who saved her brother's ass. A thank you was appropriate.

"Thanks, not gonna happen again", the boy told a now much softer looking Happy before he picked up his duffle bag and left the kitchen. A moment later they heard a door slam.

Happy's finger closed around her wrist as the dark haired woman got up. Gentle, he pulled her closer and made her sit on his lap only to capture her lips with his.

With a pleasant sigh she returned the kiss, her arms slowly snaking around his neck. Their kiss quickly got heated and the tension in the air could be cut with a knife as his strong arms wrapped around her small waist to pick her up and sat her back down on the table without breaking the kiss once.

His hands squeezed her perfectly shaped ass that was barely covered by the short black skirt she wore. He had always loved her style, the way she dressed⸺ but he hated how other men were looking at her, which he wouldn't admit out loud.

Their friendship was never just a friendship. Once she turned eighteen they finally gave in to their longings only to pretend nothing ever happened. The sex never affected their friendship, they just grew closer and closer. And after a while they decided they wanted a friendship with benefits kind of thing but only as long as no one was in a relationship.

A soft moan escaped her throat as he ran the tip of his fingers over the inside of her thigh, holding her breath the moment he pushed the lace fabric of her soaked slip aside only to bury two of his fingers inside her.

"I fuckin' missed you, little girl", he rasped into the kiss, his tongue taking control over hers again. She loved when he took control of her.

Her nails dug into his shoulder while her hips braced against his painfully slow thrusts. That grin on his face told her that he knew he was teasing her.

"Guess you missed me, too, huh?" His growl had her dripping even more as another moan slipped past her lips, nodding eagerly.

"Just fuck me already. You've been gone far too long", she almost whined, making him chuckle. He withdrew his hand and pulled a condom out of his wallet while she fiddled with his belt. He quickly ripped the wrapper open and slipped on the condom after she pulled his pants down just enough to free his rock hard cock.

Within seconds he stood between her legs, wrapped them around his waist. A shaky moan fell off her lips as he thrusted inside her and giving her no time to adjust to his size. Happy knew she could take it and he didn't have the patience for slow sex. After five months without her he needed her and that roughly.

Right in this moment, when he saw the pure lust in her piercing blue eyes, he realized once again that he loved to make her laugh but also loved to make her moan his name at his strokes.

⸺

The three of them sat around the coffee table in the living room and ate their spaghetti's in a comfortable silence. Normally, she'd be cuddled up in her bed sleeping by now but she also enjoyed sitting here with Happy and her brother. It had something peaceful.

"How long are you staying this time?", Cassie asked curiosily. As always, they acted like nothing happened before.

Happy was lost in his thoughts for a moment as Cassie's voice rang in his ears. He looked over at her, not sure if he should tell her the truth that he was actually here because of her, not just because he wanted to drop off Benny. But James asked him not to tell her about his call since she would only feel patronized.

"A few days, then I have to go back to Charming. Can't leave my dog with Tig for too long or he won't give him back", Happy smirked slightly but there was some truth to his words.

"Oh, I thought you'd stay longer", she replied, having a hard time to hide the disappointment in her tone. Her life was in shambles. She just longed for a real friend, for someone who would listen to her. Yet she gave her best to smile, not wanting him to feel guilty for leaving so soon again. "But I get it, I wouldn't want to lose my dog to someone else either."

"Just fucking tell him that you want him around", Benny said in a duh tone, acting like asking someone to stay was the easiest thing to do.

Cassie threw one of the pillows on the couch at him, causing the teenager to snort a laugh. Her reaction was proof enough that he was right. She wanted Happy around but was too chicken to ask.

"Can't you embarrass me for once?", she hissed at him, her cheeks bright red. Yet she had to laugh the moment he started laughing. Even Happy let out one of his rare but amazing laughs. Cassie had always loved hearing him laugh.

"He's not wrong, Cas. Just say it if you want me to stay longer. I'll make it work", he told her simply, reaching out to brush her hair out of her pretty face. This was nothing unusual for them, they always touched each other. There was nothing wrong with that.

"That would be great", the older Connor sibling admitted softly.

Benny rolled his eyes, probably the only one in the room who realized that there was more between the two of them. He'd be happy for his sister. She, besides James, were the only ones who always supported him, no matter how much he messed up.

⸺

authors note; yes, another Happy story! It's okay if you're already annoyed by all my updates but I just enjoy writing so much at the moment and I just have to write all my ideas down, lol. I'd love to hear from you in the comments! 🖤🌵