Happy chuckled as Sage's eyes lit up as he placed a plate of Gemma's meatloaf on the table where she sat with Tig and Ima. Sitting down with his own plate, he always kept an eye on the redhead, making sure she was eating enough.

"Oh my god, that tastes so good!" Without waiting, she shoved a fork full into her mouth and let out a contented sigh. "I have to admit, I missed that."

"Oh, more than us or what?" Tig asked, pretending to be hurt before he smirked. "What did you do to our killer? He's never brought anyone food before."

"Mhmm, I would like t' know that too", Chibs chimed in amused and sat down with the group, having his own plate with him. "How did you get him so soft, lass?"

"I'm still here, assholes", the SAA grunted, contentedly watching as Sage almost completely emptied the plate within a short space of time. "I just want her to eat, that's all."

"Isn't that cute?" A teasing grin crossed her lips and she placed her hand on Happy's leg under the table.

"Don't ever say that out loud again, woman", Happy warned, although he smirked and slipped his hand under the table to place it on top of Sage's.

"Okay", Tig began, unsure what to think about the whole thing. In any case, the two of them behaved strangely. "Can you two explain what this is? Why would you be interested in her well-being even though she's not your Old Lady?" he asked Happy, genuinely interested. "Not that I mind, my daughter deserves to get spoiled. But your sudden urge to take care of a woman scares me a little."

After letting out a laugh, Ima rubbed the tip of her nose. "Maybe because he's a gentleman?"

Chibs snorted a laugh. "Hap, a gentleman?"

"What the hell, man?" Happy just shook his head and took a sip of his beer before standing up. Whistling through his teeth to get everyone's attention, he noticed Sage's nervous look on him. "I got some news", he gently pulled the redhead to her feet. "Or rather, we."

"I think I'm going to throw up", the redhead announced quietly so only Happy could hear her. However, he just chuckled while he put his arm loosely around her.

Earlier in the motel they both decided that it would be better to tell everyone. Everyone would find out about it eventually anyway and Happy seemed so proud that he wanted to share it with everyone right away. Although Sage was sure he was doing that so more people would keep an eye on her.

"Wait, don't tell me Sage is your Old Lady", Bobby said with a little too much joy in his tone, which only earned him a sour look from Jaxᅳ although Bobby didn't even notice it.

Juice chuckled at Bobby's enthusiasm. "Come on, tell us the news!"

"No, I'm not", Sage immediately let everyone know, whereupon everyone seemed to be a little disappointed. She kneaded her hands nervously, the smallest smile on her lips. "I'm pregnant."

"And it's my kid", Happy quickly added to clear up any confusion that might arise.

Before they could say anything else, cheers echoed through the large room. Congratulations were shouted towards them and whistles could be heard here and there.

"I told you they'd be happy", he whispered against her ear, pulling her closer to his side.

"Jesus baby, I didn't expect news like that." Gemma approached the couple with a broad smile, took Sage's face in her hands and pressed a kiss to her cheek.

"Shite, that's why he spoils her so much." Chibs slammed his hand on the table in delight before standing up and congratulating the couple. He proudly slapped Happy's back. "I never thought you'd be a father one day."

"Me neither, man", a deep laugh rattled through Happy's chest.

Slowly everyone came up to the two of them to hug them and personally express their congratulations. A bunch of sweet bikers who became softies when it came to babies.

However, Sage's gaze drifted to Tig. To be honest, what mattered most to her was his reaction. It was nice and a huge relief that the others were happy for them, but she wanted to know what her dad thought.

After Ima had hugged her, she let go of her and let Tig pass, who had first given everyone the chance to congratulate his daughter. It took him a moment to even realize the news, but secretly he was as happy as a little child at Christmas.

"I can't believe my baby is having a baby", he said with emotion thick in his voice before pulling Sage into a bone-crushing hug. "I'm here for you, no matter what you need, baby."

"I'm twenty-seven, dad, not a baby anymore", she chuckled. As she found herself in his arms, she let out a shaky breath as a huge weight fell off her shoulders. He was happy, which was everything she had hoped for. "Thanks Dad, I just need your support, that's all."

"You'll always have my support", he whispered against her hair before placing a kiss on it, then looking at her with the proudest smile. "That's why you're glowing."

Even though he was already a grandfather and loved Hayley dearly, he knew that he would have a much closer relationship with Sage's baby and he couldn't wait to meet his grandson or granddaughter. Unlike Fawn, Sage wouldn't make sure her child spent as little time with him as possible.

"Mhm...looks like the pregnancy is doing me some good", she said, smirking. "Well, except for the nausea every morning."

"So my grandkid is already causing trouble?" Tig asked with a chuckle before hitting Happy's arm, pulling him into a hug and giving him a brotherly slap on the back. "You better take care of my girl or we two will have a problem."

"You can count on it, bro", Happy promised sincerely, nothing but seriousness in his dark eyes. "I'll make sure Sage and the baby aren't missing anything."

"Good", the older SAA nodded. "I didn't expect anything else."

It was hard to believe that Happy knew how to take responsibility. He had always been too focused on the clubᅳ he was a lone wolf. The club was everything to him and always came first. And yet Tig would have no doubt that Happy would care for his daughter.

She belonged to him now, whether they both wanted to admit it or not. So she was now his priority, especially because of the baby. The fact that he brought her food seemed normal to outsiders, but here in the club it was still the case that the Old Lady's or Croweaters took care of the men.

But as soon as the men found the right one, that changed. Which is why Tig was sure that there was more between his daughter and Happy and that the two would definitely end up together at some point.

"So, you're having a kid with a sociopath", Fawn shook her head while letting out a bitter laugh after she approached the small group. "Tell me, do you have any idea who he really is? How much he loves torturing people?"

"Because your husband is so innocent, huh?!" Sage asked with a snort, yet she had no idea about that side of Happy. But she had figured that the famous nickname 'Tacoma Killer' didn't come from nothing. "Just stay out of this, Fawn. It's not like you'll be a part of my baby's life."

“Who says I want that?”, she asked, sounding more offended than she had planned to. "But that child is still my niece or nephew. Even if you don't care about Hayley's well-beingᅳ"

"Don't even dare to make me look like the bad one", Sage warned through gritted teeth, her eyes filled with anger. "I care about Hayley, she's my niece after all. But why should I be part of her life if we don't get along? Mind your own business, Fawn."

"Why do you always have to be so damn stubborn?" An annoyed groan slipped past Fawn's lips as she frowned. "Are you going to move here?"

"Fawn, leave it." Jax came up behind his wife and placed a hand against her back. A strained smile was on his lips. It was definitely forced as he looked at the expectant parents. "Congrats. I have to admit, I wasn't expecting that."

"Well, sometimes things happen that you don't expect", Sage replied reluctantly, then her eyes landed on Fawn again. "And no, I'm staying in Seattle."

"We'd better not make a problem of it", Happy grunted, not yet trusting Jax' good mood. He slowly slipped his arm around Sage's waist, squeezing her hip.

He wasn't a fan of her staying in Seattle, but he couldn't force her to move to Charming. That would only mean stress and stress was the last thing she needed during pregnancy.

"No, absolutely not", Jax replied calmly, but there was something bitter in his tone that he tried to drown out with a clearing of his throat. "But wouldn't it be smarter if you moved here? I mean, it's Happy's kid, he has a right to see it regularly."

Secretly, he just hoped to have Sage around more often again. Even though he didn't admit it, he felt jealousy simmering within him. Jealous because another man treated her better than he did while she was still his Old Lady. And that didn't sit right with him.

"And he will", Sage said firmly. "Happy will see his kid as often as possible."

"Oh please, we all know that's impossible when one is here in Charming and the other is in Seattle. It's almost an eighteen hour drive." Fawn shook her head. Out of the corner of her eye, she glanced at Jax, who seemed to be seething. But she would talk to him about that later.

"Fawn, why don't you let that be their problem and stay out of this?" Tig placed his hands on his hips. "They know what they're doing. And who knows, maybe it works better than expected."

"I don't think so." Pure arrogance was written on Fawn's flawless face when her father scolded her. "But who am I, right? This is going to fail and none of you want to see that. This can't work if she stays in Seattle."

"Fawn, that's enough! It's not like you're a relationship expert." Gemma, who had heard and seen enough, now intervened. "Don't you think you've done enough already?" Gemma's gaze slid to Jax. "And you too. Make sure you keep your Old Lady in place."

As much as she loved her son, what he did to Sage still left a bitter taste in her mouth and she had never been a fan of Fawn. Funnily enough, Jax always attracted the women who had a problem with his life and thought they were something better.

The matriarch didn't miss Jax' gaze earlier either. She had seen the pure remorse reflected in his eyes when the two of them had announced the pregnancy. Normally she would take advantage of this and convince him that he had to win Sage back.

But Gemma loved the redhead too much to want to inflict this pain on her again. Sage deserved to be happy and if Happy was the one who could give her that then so be it.

Jax ground his teeth together, not happy with the way Gemma was talking to him. "You know what Mom, youᅳ"

"Aye, that's enough!" Chibs positioned himself between the fronts, earning a grateful look from Sage. "We have something t' celebrate, not something t' argue about! Let's toast the new family member!"

"You're right, we should celebrate this." Jax lifted his arms in defense, that fake smile that didn't even reach his eyes back on his lips. "Prospect! A round of shots for everyone!"

Sage shared a skeptical look with Happy, both unconvinced that things would remain peaceful. Jax had a problem with her being pregnantᅳ especially because it was Happy's kid. Maybe the blonde could outsmart others, but not her. She knew him too well for that. And no one could outsmart Happy anyway.

In order to keep the peace at least for tonight, they both put on a happy face and tried to ignore Jax and Fawn's little tantrums.

ᚔ

"What's your body count?", Sage asked boldly, curiosity in her green orbs as she sat on Happy's bed, eating another plate of Gemma's meatloaf.

Before they went to his room, Happy had asked Gemma to heat up a plate for Sage so that she would have enough to eat. Maybe he was exaggerating, but she was eating for two now.

Taken back by her direct question, he arched an eyebrow. He had only brought a beer with him and was sitting on the bed opposite her, one leg bent so he could rest his arm on his knee. "What kind of body count are we talking about here?"

"Well, how many you've killed so far", she said casually as she shoved another forkful of rice and gravy in her mouth. Only then did she realize what he meant, making her laugh. "Oh, that's what you mean by different body count", she stated. "I don't even want to know how many women you've slept with."

"I thought so", he replied with the slightest smirk before he shrugged his shoulders. "I stopped counting at some point."

"The smileys", Sage lowered her fork and ran her fingertips over Happy's smiley tattoos. "I heard some rumors that they represent every kill?"

"Not every kill." He sighed comfortably as her fingers caressed his side. She didn't seem really shocked by his previous statement, which surprised him a little. "These are just the ones I killed for the club. Or the most important ones."

"So you have a lot more blood on your hands?", she inquired, but nodded before he even gave an answer. "Okay...that's a lot."

“Are you okay with that?”, he asked, his brows furrowed thoughtfully.

"Well", Sage shrugged ever so slightly. "I know you have your reasons and that it's not innocent people you're killing. I mean, Dad has the same position as you and I would always have his back, even though I know what he's doing."

"He's your father, that's different, little girl", Happy told her gruffly.

"And you are the father of my child", she answered, her voice confident, as she lifted her gaze and looked into his eyes. "I don't care what you do as long as it doesn't endanger our child. I know that you are a good person, Happy, even if you sometimes don't see it that way yourself."

"Jax was really an idiot to let a woman like you go." Shaking his head, he set his bottle aside, not quite able to understand how someone as stupid as Jax could be and trade Sage for someone like Fawn.

"He never really appreciated that I had his back and supported everything he did, and I never understood why. I thought that's what makes an Old Lady, you know?", she admitted honestly as she finished her plate. "But Jax seems to have a certain type of woman he likes. Fawn is just like Tara, if not worse. That's gonna end badly at some point."

"Anyone else would have appreciated it", he assured her, grumbling. "And if it'll end dirty between the two of them, that's not your problem."

"I know." Sage put the plate on the floor and straddled Happy's lap, her arms loosely wrapped around his neck. "Is it really okay with you if I stay in Seattle? You know I'll give my best so you can see the baby regularly, right?"

Happy's arms found their way around her waist, his hot breath hitting her skin as he peppered kisses along her neck before looking at her, placing his hand against her cheek.

"I want you to stay here and normally I wouldn't accept you staying in Seattle so easily", he replied honestly, there was no point in lying. "But forcing you to move here would only mean stress for you and the baby."

Sighing, he buried his face in her hair and inhaled the fruity scent of her shampoo. "But we have to find a good solution, Sage. I don't just want to see you and my kid every few weeks."

"I know", the redhead murmured as she snuggled closer to him and rested her forehead against his. "We'll find a solution until the baby is here, I promise."

Happy just grunted, then pulled her back with him and motioned for her to lie down next to him. Both had showered already so they didn't have to do that anymore. Before he slipped his arm around her waist, he pulled the blanket over him and her and sighed contentedly against her hair as she pressed her body against his.

This was by far more than a friendship with benefits thing and they both knew that, but they still believed it was better to stay out of a relationship. Until now.

Happy's hand slipped to her stomach and under her oversized grey shirt, his thumb caressing her soft skin. "Get some sleep, little girl."

"Goodnight, Hap", Sage murmured as tiredness overcame her. From her even, shallow breathing, Happy could hear that she had actually fallen asleep just a few minutes later.

Only then did he close his eyes and allow himself to get some sleep, too.