THE GENTLE WAVES of the ocean splashed over the warm sand and every time the remaining water from a wave covered her tiny feet, Esmee giggled, a warm sound coming straight from her belly that, with the sound of the waves, was like music to Josy's ears.

Happy's arms were wrapped loosely around her as they sat in the sand on a large blanket, their shoes placed next to a basket that Happy had brought. There was nothing the man in whose arms she lay had not thought of.

Drinks, sandwiches, candy and fruit, which Esmee had practically inhaled earlier and still had red marks around her mouth from the strawberries. The one-year-old hadn't really been interested in the other things her father had brought.

At first, Josy couldn't believe that a man who looked like Happy, with that gruff voice and intimidating appearance, could actually be so attentive and loving. But the moment he stood in front of her with flowers, flowers he had picked himself, she no longer had any doubts about the others' statements that Happy had been her great love.

She didn't need any more proof to realize why and whether she had really fallen in love with him back thenᅳ her heart had believed it since last week and with today's visit all remaining doubts disappeared.

"It's so nice, just sitting here and watching her." Completely satisfied and happy, the redhead snuggled closer to his chest, her hands resting on top of his as the sun sank deeper into the oceanᅳ at least that's how it looked like. "You're a really good dad, Happyᅳ and I mean it."

"It is", he croaked against the back of her head as he placed a kiss on her red waves that covered her back, inhaling her scent with his eyes closed as he tightened his grip around her. "I tried my best, like I promised you."

Josy heard the pain in Happy's croak, something that tugged at her heartstrings. Her face twisted in sympathy, she lifted her head back a little and turned it to the side so she could look at him, their lips barely a few inches apart.

"And you did your best", she breathed out, her soft voice still firm and convincing. "No child who doesn't grow up protected and with love looks so happy. The way she looks at you..", Josy shook her head gently, a smile dancing on her lips. "As if you were her whole world, her heroᅳ that's exactly how it should be and I know, deep down, that I would've always wanted something like that for my future children."

"I promised you, little girl. And I keep my promises." His voice was barely louder than a rough whisper, his eyes shimmering with unshed tears before he quickly closed them and let a hand slide to the back of her neck, his forehead resting against hers. "She was all I had leftᅳ and I was all she had left."

Of course he had the club, Gemma and even the Croweaters who had all been willing to step in and help him raise Esmeeᅳ and at first he had needed the help. A newborn while still grieving could drive you mad.

But Esmee, after losing the most important thing besides his daughter, was his support, his rockᅳ and he knew he couldn't leave her alone, not after the girl had already lost her mother.

"I'm here now and I'm not going anywhere", she whispered sincerely against his lips, her warm breath brushing his skin as her fingertips danced over his stubble. "I know we can't just pick up where we left off, but I want my family back."

"You already have us", he grunted softly, caressing her neck as he slowly opened his eyes, his brown ones meeting her green orbs. "I wouldn't have let you go again anyway, Jo."

Jo. A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth. So many new nicknames that sounded so familiar. Little girl, Jo, sweet girl. And she loved every single one of them.

When their eyes met again after she had briefly lowered her gaze, her breath hitched in her throat while Happy's breath hitched against her lips, both of them dipping their heads forward.

Their lips were only separated by a small gap as the romantic moment was interrupted when Esmee threw herself between them with a giggle and climbed onto Happy's lap, her tiny hand reaching into Josy's ginger waves.

"Ma!" Shining brighter than the sun on the horizon, Esmee stuck the index finger of her free hand in her mouth, of course with no idea what she had just prevented. "Pway!"

When Happy saw the red complexion on Josy's freckled cheeks, an amused grin crossed his features. "Wanna go back to your place?"

"Yeah.." Josy cleared her throat quietly, the blush on her cheeks growing stronger as she saw the outrageously good-looking grin dancing on the man's lips. A smile took over her face as Esmee rubbed her eyes with her small hands. "I think someone's tired."

"No", the girl shook her head, her curls bouncing. "Esmee pway!"

"We can come back tomorrow, baby." Josy turned a little until she was sitting on her knees so she could scoop Esmee into her arms. "Then we'll build another sandcastle, hm?"

With shining eyes, Esmee looked at the sandcastle again. Building sandcastles with her parents was now firmly stored in her memories.

Nodding her head, she finally snuggled up to Josy, with whom she had felt a deep bond from the beginning, and tried with all her might to keep her eyes open.

And while Happy packed everything back into the basket and collected Esmee's sand toys before slipping into his boots, he watched his two girls from the corner of his eye, his chest swelling with pride as a warm feeling traveled through his body.

That was all he neededᅳ and he would fight to have Josy back with him soon, to have her by his side again.

ᅳ

THE TWO  LAY SIDE BY SIDE in bed and faced each other, their bodies separated by only a small distance while they listened to the soft snores coming from the living room. So that Esmee could get a peaceful sleep, they had set up her travel bed in the living room, the quietest room in the apartment.

Happy offered to sleep in the living room as well and take the couch, but Josy was the one who wanted him with her, who asked him to spend the night with her. And who the hell was he to say no to that?

As the room grew darker, the sun now replaced by the silver moon, it cast a gentle glow into the room that was at least as romantic as the sunset earlier.

"You should know the truth about me before you get involved with me again, little girl." Happy's raspy, slightly tired voice broke through the silence. "I want you to know who you married back then, what I'm capable of."

"Then tell me", she murmured determinedly, fairly certain that nothing could shock her anymoreᅳ not after what her own family had done to her. "Apparently I had no problems with it when I said 'I do'."

"No, you didn't", he confirmed with the slightest of smiles as he tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear and placed his hand against the side of her neck, rubbing the pad of his thumb over her cheek. "I kill people, torture them until they talk, and bury bodies in the woods, more than you wanna know. That's my jobᅳ to carry out the murders for my club."

He saw no point in beating around the bush for too long, instead he wanted to get straight to the point. He watched carefully as her face fell briefly, her skin suddenly looking even paler under the silver moonlight, but she didn't tell him to leave.

"I know it's a lot to swallow", he added as she just stared at him in silence and swallowed softly, drawing a sigh from him. "Look, I know that this is probablyᅳ"

Josy interrupted him, uncertainty lingering in her shaky voice. "Are they innocent people? Have you ever killed someone innocent, Happy?"

"I don't know", he answered honestly, stopping his touch when he saw the horror flashing in her eyes. "Before I joined the Redwood Original Charter, I was doing contract killings on the side to pay for my ma's pills and treatments. When you're hired, you don't ask questions. So; I really don't know."

"Shit." Another shaky breath left Josy's lips as she shifted slightly in bed. Was she ready to be with someone like him? A man with blood on his hands? But she did it once, she could do it again, right? And he was an absolutely amazing father to their daughter; this man couldn't be that bad. "Iᅳ I mean, this is a tough one, I have to admit."

She raised her finger to his mouth as he parted his lips, ready to say something and explain things. But she spoke first, looking straight into his dark eyes.

"When I was in Charming last week, I realized that I belonged there, that I had a past there. For the first time, I felt at home again, like I belong somewhere. And everyone was so nice to me", she explained with furrowed eyebrows, her gaze thoughtful as she slid across the pastel orange silk of her blanket and closer to Happy. "I felt at home with you. The way you are with me, so loving and attentiveᅳ I can't imagine you being a bad person."

"Because I'm not as long as you're with me", he finally croaked. Sliding closer to close the distance completely, he ran his fingers through her hair until he rested his hand on the back of her head. "I'd do anything to have you back with me, baby, even if it meant giving up my position in the club."

Happy Lowman, the man who enjoyed torturing people and finding new techniques to get them to talk, was willing to give up everything for the woman he had already lost once. It wouldn't happen again, even if it meant giving up things that he enjoyed doing.

"That's not what I want, Hap", she whispered back, clutching his gray shirt. "I know how much the club means to you, but I can't handle you killing innocents."

"I won't, Josy", he promised eagerly, pushing himself up on his elbow before he cupped her face in his hands, pulling her up a little as well. "I won't hurt anyone ever again if that's what you wantᅳ as long as it means I can have you back."

Fuck, he was so soft for the womanᅳ for his wife. Years ago he would've laughed at himself if someone had told him he was willing to give up everything for pussy. But Josy wasn't just pussy, Josy was his whole god damn life. And she and Esmee were worth giving up everything else that was important to him.

"Kiss me", she suddenly blurted out as she stared at his lips through half-open eyelids, her pulse faster than ever. "Just..kiss me."

Happy looked at her slightly confused, but something flashed in his eyes that sent excitement to her core.

"Butᅳ", he started, dazzled.

"Listen, I loved you back then even though I apparently knew who you were, and I won't change you, Happy", she explained with a soft swallow, running her hand over his head until she reached his neck. Letting her delicate fingers there, she gave a small smile.  "And right now I just wanna feel you, know what it feels like to kiss my husband."

Her last words did it for him. Without hesitating a second longer, he pulled her in a searing kiss. He wasn't too rough, instead he made sure to respond to her needs, to share the lead with her and it felt fuckin' good.

Her lips as soft as he still remembered them, she parted them for him, allowing his tongue in after he had practically asked for it by sliding it over her bottom lip. A deep sigh rattled through his throat as their tongues danced and brushed against each other, keeping a pleasant yet demanding rhythm.

He couldn't help but his pants immediately tightened in a certain area, his twitching cock demanding more. But he couldn't ask that of Josy right away, so he suppressed the need to fuck his wife and hid his crotch on the mattress to hide the growing bulge while he pulled Josy tightly against his chest and deepened the passionate kiss.

Completely out of breath, Josy finally pulled away first, but her lips were still hovering close to his. Tears gathered in her green eyes before a sob left her throatᅳ but one that sounded happy rather than upset.

"Shit." Happy grabbed her chin, his grip gentle but firm as concern crossed his features. "You okay? Did I do something wrong?"

Barely able to suppress another sob, the next one came, and the next one, and the next oneᅳ until she was a crying mess and yet she smiled through her tears.

"Something came back, a fragment of memory I think", she choked out, practically clinging to his shirt while her forehead was pressed against his. "We kissedᅳ at a fair. Maybe my mind is just playing tricks on meᅳ"

"No, your mind isn't playing tricks on you", Happy shook his head with a smile, a big lump sitting in his throat as he rubbed his thumb against her cheek. "Our first kiss was at a fair. I couldn't resist any longer and just did itᅳ and from that evening on there was no other woman for me."

"Holy shit. All of this is so..crazy", the redhead breathed out, completely spooked but also thrilled that she suddenly had a memory back. It really was only a small fragment, but enough to make her heart race. "I want you..here and now", she demanded impatiently, trying to pull him on top of her.

"You sure?" Pure lust and admiration but also uncertainty flashed in his eyes as he gently pushed the woman away from him, examining her carefully. "I won't let you go again if you let me in now, Jo."

"Who says I want that?" A smile crossed her pretty face, making Happy's heart beat faster before he pulled her under him and slammed his lips onto hers, drawing an excited moan from her as he grinded his hips against her core after she wrapped a leg around his waist to keep him close to her.

If that was what she wanted, Happy was more than willing to give it to her.

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