2 YEARS LATER

RUBY'S LITTLE FEET CARRIED her out of her room into the hallway, picking up speed as thunder struck again. Heavy raindrops pattered against the windows and onto the roof, frightening the little girl even more. When Ruby finally reached the other bedroom on the end of the hallway, she climbed into her parents' bed with a squeak and crawled between them, Happy's blanket already lifted so she could snuggle under it.

They both knew that it was only a matter of time before Ruby came to them if there was a storm outside. A raspy, warm laugh rumbled through his chest as the three-year-old clung to him, her stuffed animal squashed between him and his daughter.

"I'm scared, Daddy", Ruby whined, her teeth chattering as her grip on her father tightened as the rain pounded harder against the windows, her next words just a whimper. "I don't like this."

"It's okay, munchkin, you're safe in here", he croaked, sleep thick in his voice. "It'll be over soon."

"Promise?" Ruby's body slowly relaxed in Happy's arms, but trembled again when another thunder struck.

Nola was awake by now, too, turned under the covers and slid closer to the others. Putting her arm protectively around the three-year-old, she murmured soothing things against Ruby's dark hair. "Promise. Nothing's going to happen in here, like Daddy already said, baby."

Happy's arm slipped further over so that he could place it over Ruby and Nola, and pulled them both even closer to him, his eyes long since closed again. But he wouldn't sleep until his daughter got some sleep too.

"Love you, mommy", Ruby chirped through a yawn, snuggling up against her mom with her back without leaving her dad's side. "Love you, daddy."

"We love you too, bug", Happy croaked, a tired smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. No matter how long his day was, he cherished these moments.

ᅳ

AFTER NOLA HAD LET HIM sleep in because Happy didn't have to be at the clubhouse until the afternoon, he came into the kitchen after being woken up by the soft clinking of dishes and the smell of coffee. As he wandered into the kitchen fully dressed, Nola could still see the tiredness on his face from the lack of sleep last night.

"Ah shit, did I wake you?", Nola asked as she spun around and looked up, her Old Man now standing behind her with his hands resting on her shoulders.

"Don't worry, little girl." He leaned down and captured her lips in a quick but affectionate kiss. "Why didn't you wake me right away?"

A smile formed on Nola's lips, his gravelly voice still tinged with sleep sending a shiver down her spine. "You were awake the whole time with Ruby last night, I wanted to let you sleep in."

"Mornin' daddy!" The three-year-old nibbled on her apple, her pancakes already finished, and smiled up at Happy. "Can we go to the playground today?"

"Morning, Munchkin." Happy chuckled, watching the apple quickly disappear into Ruby's mouth. One apple a day keeps the doctor away, right? So he wasn't complaining at all. "I don't think we'll be able to go today, I have to be at the clubhouse later. But I got some time tomorrow, how does that sound?"

"Nooo, I wanna go to the playground with you and Mommy today." Ruby stuck her lower lip out in a pout and wrinkled her nose as Happy ruffled her hair without messing it up, the white bow in her curls still in place. "Just an hour. Pleeeease, Daddy."

"Stop that, young lady", Happy warned gently but with a grunt, his tough facade immediately crumbling as the three-year-old batted her eyelashes at him, knowing exactly what she was doing. "Fine. An hour. But after that, Jax needs me, okay?"

Ruby's smile spread from ear to ear. "That's okay! Thanks, Daddy."

"You really know what you have to do", the SAA grumbled, sending a glare in his wife's direction as she snorted a laugh. "You can't stay hard either, woman."

"Never said I could", she smirked. "But it's still funny to see you soften so quickly under her gaze every single time."

His lips already parted to argue, he slowly sat down on the third chair after pouring himself a cup of coffee, narrowing his eyes as his gaze flickered from Nola to the tangerines in a bowl in front of her.

"Are you pregnant?", he asked boldly, unlike Nola's amused expression, his was serious.

"Why? Because I eat tangerines?", she asked almost teasingly, shaking her head as she popped a piece into her mouth. "You know I like tangerinesᅳ always, not just when I'm pregnant."

"Bullshit, haven't seen a damn tangerine in this house since you were pregnant with Ruby." A grin slowly formed on his lips. "Wanna bet?"

"Bet if I'm pregnant?", Nola snorted in amusement, but she liked the idea. With a challenging smile, she crossed her arms on the table, leaning forward a little. "What are we betting on?"

Happy shrugged his shoulders casually. "If I'm right, you'll finally agree to us looking for a bigger houseᅳ which we'll need if you're pregnant."

"That's not fair. You know I love our house", Nola countered with a roll of her eyes, laughing softly as she threw her hands in the air. "But fine, if you're right, I'll agree to it. If I'm right, though, we'll finally go on our planned vacation in New Mexico. I'm sure Jax will be able to let you go for a week."

"Fair trade, I'd say", the SAA winked as he held out his hand to Nola, his grin growing as she shook it. "Buy a test later, tonight I wanna know if we can finally look for a house."

"What's your problem with this house here?", the blonde asked, visibly amused. "It's literally perfect."

But right now, so shortly before Alden was to get out of prison, Happy wanted to get away. He knew that the bastard would find the new address anyway, but he just wanted a peaceful new start with his little family. He wanted to offer Nola and Ruby more, even though he knew that Nola wasn't someone who needed luxury.

"Does that mean you have a baby in your belly, mommy?", Ruby asked with a gasp, her feet dangling excitedly from the chair. "Will it be a boy? Or a girl? How long will it take until the baby is here so I can hold it?"

"Jesus Ruby, take a breath." Nola lovingly placed a hand against Ruby's cheek and ran her thumb over it, smiling. "I don't think I'm having a baby, but that's exactly what Daddy and I want to find out tonight. And if there's a baby, it'll still take a while until you can see and hold it."

"Oh man", the three-year-old sighed theatrically, throwing her head back. "I hate waiting."

"Me too, bug", Happy winked as he leaned over to her a little. "But as soon as we know, you'll be the first to know. Sound good?"

Ruby's answer came quickly, her eyes filled with joy. "I like that."

Happy's and Nola's eyes met briefly, sending each other a small smile. Nola wasn't sure whether Happy could actually be right, but she wouldn't mind having a second child, especially with the man she loved more than anything. And Ruby would make an absolutely adorable big sister.

ᅳ

AS PROMISED, Nola had bought a test, but wanted to wait for Happy to take it with him. It would probably be another hour before he got home, so she decided to prepare dinner.

"Ruby baby", she called out as she headed from the hallway to the kitchen. "You wanna help mommy cook?"

"Yeeeees!" The three-year-old immediately stormed out of her room. She never said no when it came to helping her mommy. "I wanna cut everything, please!"

Nola chuckled, catching her daughter as she ran towards her. "Sure, if you want. We need carrots, potatoes andᅳ"

A knock on the door interrupted Nola mid-sentence. She wasn't expecting anyone, and Happy always had his keys with him. Maybe it was just Gemma or Ginny, who now also lived in Charming.

"Who is that?", Ruby asked curiously, snuggling up to her mom while wrapping her small arms around Nola's neck.

"I don't know, baby. Let's go and check." Without any foreboding, Nola crossed the hall and opened the door, her breath immediately hitching in her throat as all the color drained from her face. "Wᅳ what are you doing here? You should still be..."

Nola shook her head, panic flashing in her eyes. This couldn't be true. Alden should be in prison for another month, not standing here at her door while she was home alone with Ruby.

"Yeah, yeah, I know. Got out earlier", Alden waved indifferently, a crooked smile on his lips as he looked Nola over with a dirty look before it wandered to Ruby. "That must be myᅳ"

"Shut up", Nola hissed before Alden could even say the words, her tone razor sharp. When Ruby flinched in her arms, Nola sighed and wrapped her arms protectively around her daughter's small figure. "You're not coming here so you can confuse my childᅳ you have no rights, remember?"

"I'm impulsive, not stupid, Nola", Alden drawled with his charming smile, yet there was a menacing twinkle in his brown eyes as he leaned against the doorframe casually. "I told you I'll get back what's mine. Plus, I will have my rights to see her back."

"What the hell are you talking about?", Nola asked, her voice cracking as tears formed in her eyes. She hated how small she still felt in front of him, how scared she still was. "You can't come near me or her; says the restraining order. That alone was a stupid mistake you just made."

"Maybe", Alden hummed, his eyes dull and empty. He had nothing left to lose, that's what made him so dangerous. "But I've spent the last three years trying to convince everyone that I regret my actions. I've done therapy, shown my best sideᅳ and what can I say, people just love me."

When Nola's lips began to tremble, she put Ruby down on the floor, took her face in her hands and asked the three-year-old to go to her room. She tried to hide how scared she was, but Ruby was smart; attentive.

"But Mommyᅳ", the girl began, her voice squeaky and full of uncertainty as she looked back and forth between the man and her mom.

But Nola interrupted her with loving severity, placing a kiss on her forehead as she crouched in front of her. "I want you to listen to me, Ruby, please. Wait in your room."

The three-year-old let her shoulders sink. She was confused and the man scared her, especially that creepy grin, but in the end she reluctantly listened to her mom and toddled into her room.

"Afraid I'll just take her with me?", Alden asked as he pushed himself away from the doorframe and strode toward Nola, a dark chuckle filling the hallway as she stumbled back. "Like I said, I'm not stupid. I just wanted to stop by to tell you I'm back."

The fear radiating from Nola made him feel like he still had power over her, which he liked, probably even turned him on. Nola didn't answer, instead she stumbled further back with every step he took toward her until he finally trapped her against the wall, his hands resting next to her head.

He tilted his head forward threateningly, his breath brushing against her face. "And you should get a good lawyerᅳ that sweet girl you just sent away will soon be living with me otherwise."

"You're so full of shit!" A sob tearing through her, Nola shoved the man in front of her in the chest, her expression a mix of fear, anger and frustration. "No one's going to give you a child, not after everything you've done."

"Careful", Alden seethed, his cold eyes boring into her as his hand shot to her throat, shoving her into the wall. As the woman gasped and tried to push him away, his deep, mocking voice dropped dangerously low. "I think you've forgotten how easy it is for me to end you. I could've done it a long time ago, but I didn't. How about you be fuckin' grateful for that?!"

Nola couldn't answer, the grip around her throat vice-like. Her skin burned under his hand, only his two rings a cold contrast. Tears streamed down her cheeks, flashbacks of her former relationship with him hitting her.

"Please..", her words, only a dull, struggling croak, seemed to reach Alden, but it was probably the fact that she was about to collapse that made him finally let go of her. "Just go..please just go.."

Rubbling the sore spot on her neck, Nola stumbled to the side and against a dresser, her other arm wrapped protectively around her body. She knew there was a gun in the drawer next to her, but she didn't dare to do something that could only make things worse. And her daughter shouldn't have to see a bloodbath.

"Okay, even if that means the fun is over", Alden scoffed, no more mature than he had been back then. "Remember what I said. Oh, and Nolaᅳ", he turned around again after he had already been on his way to the door. "You better not tell your husband about all this."

"Fuck you", the blonde spat through tears, sobbing hysterically as Alden shot her a grin and then slammed the door.

She would tell Happy about it, no question. Alden would never have so much control over her again that she would keep anything from her husband.

But the fear and worry that Alden might actually get his rights to Ruby back scared her shitless.

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