ON HIS WAY TO BAKERSFIELD the next day, freshly showered and any signs of renovation washed off his body, Happy stopped at a gas station just before he reached Bakersfield to fill up his tank.

Rubbing the back of his wrist across his forehead to remove some sweat, he put the hose back in the pump and headed inside to pay, some stones crunching under his boots.

On his way to the checkout, wallet already in his hand, he stopped abruptly in front of a high shelf of magazines, his jaw clenched tightly as he reached for a particular magazine.

His hand gripped the magazine so hard that the leather of his gloves threatened to tear as he stared down at his half-naked Old Lady, taking in every little detail as she posed for the camera. Fuck, she was hot, and prettier than any woman he had ever seenᅳ but only he should see his woman like that, not any random guy who needed to jerk himself off.

Happy shoved his wallet back into the back pocket of his jeans, muttering something under his breath. He slowly leafed through the porn magazine, his jealousy increasing with each new picture of Tessa.

The cover photo was provocative, with her body covered only by a fishnet bodysuit, causing his pants to tighten around the crotch area. The Killer adjusted his pants with a clearing of his throat, glad he was the only one in the gas station besides the clerk.

All of the pictures looked actually professional, all of them, Happy had to admit that. None of them seemed cheap or sluttyᅳ but he still didn't like that everyone could see his Old Lady half naked. In some pictures she even wore quite a lot of clothing, albeit provocative, seductive clothing such as fishnet stockings, leather outfits or corsages that pushed her breasts up. In some more pictures Tessa was chained to a bed with leather handcuffs around her wrists, drawing a low groan from him.

And then on the next page he discovered the images that made his blood boil. His Old Lady, kneeling naked on a bed, one hand holding one of her breasts while the other slid down her perfect body.

Snorting aggressively, Happy closed the magazine, pinching the bridge of his nose before he stared at all the remaining magazines with Tessa on the cover, shoveled them into his arms and walked towards the checkout, ignoring the clerk's slightly amused yet concerned look.

"Uh, just the magazines?", he asked with a hint of amusement in his tone. "I mean, I understand, man. I bet she can do a lot of magical things behind closed doors."

Happy's head snapped up, his murderous gaze boring holes into the man in front of him. Shit, he hadn't been a saint before Tessa, and just a few months ago he would've talked just like the young guy behind the cash registerᅳ but he certainly wouldn't listen to other guys fantasizing about his woman.

His threatening look silenced the man. He even lowered his head as if he had done something wrong and finally mumbled a 'sorry' before giving Happy his change and shuffling towards the back area before he'd get himself a black eye.

With a shake of his head and a grunt, Happy pocketed his money, picked up all the magazines, and stomped out of the gas station with a grim expression on his face. He didn't know exactly what he would do with the magazines, but he definitely had to talk to Tessa again, hoping she'd understand that he wasn't a fan of her getting naked in front of a camera.

ᅳ

"HAPPY!" WITH A HUGE SMILE plastered on his face, Sawyer ran out of the house and straight towards Happy. The rumble of his bike had immediately caught the four-year-old's attention. "I have to show you something!"

A deep chuckle rattled through Happy's chest as he managed to catch Sawyer just in time, having barely removed his helmet. A warmth filled his chest knowing that Sawyer was so excited to see him, to show him something.

"Hey buddy, nice to see you too,", he said with a wink, adjusting the four-year-old on his hip. "What do you have to show me? And where's your mom, huh?"

"You'll see", he hummed mysteriously before a smile took over his face. "Inside. Did you miss Mommy and me?"

"Of course I did", the Killer grumbled, studying the boy's slightly insecure but curious features. "Why shouldn't I, buddy?"

With the slightest shrug of his shoulders, Sawyer rested his head on Happy's shoulder, resting in his arms as he let his legs dangle. "We missed you too."

"We did", Tessa replied, allowing her lips to curl into a smile as she took in the scene. "Pretty much actually."

"Good to know." As soon as Tessa stood in front of him, Happy circled her waist with one arm, pulling her into his free side before claiming her lips, sighing comfortably as Tessa's body snuggled against his.

"You know.." Tessa began cooing, a sweet smile on her lips that stayed close to Happy's. "It's kind of a nice feeling to have someone to miss. But still, I'm glad you're finally here."

"Gettin' all soft for me here, huh?", he asked with a teasing grin, but the look in his eyes clearly showed that he was just as happy to be reunited with his Old Lady and her son. "No more lonely nights for a while, I promise", he added with a croak, rubbing his thumb against the exposed skin on her hip.

"You better keep your word." Tessa's bottom lip pushed out in a pout as she ran her hand down the back of his head. "These two days without you felt really weird."

"And my lizard had to live in a box for thaaat long", Sawyer added eagerly, slapping his hands over his mouth as his secret slipped out before he could show Happy his catch. "Oh no.."

"A lizard then?" One of Happy's eyebrows shot up in amusement. "Not easy to keep a secret, hm?"

The four-year-old exhaled theatrically, as if this was the worst thing that ever had happened to him. "No. I'm just so excited and want to show it to you! Mommy said that I'll have to put him back in the garden soon."

Tessa rolled her eyes as a chuckle slipped past her lips, placing a kiss on her son's cheek. "Someday I'll buy you a big terrarium, I promise."

"Really?!" Never before did Sawyer's eyes grow so wide so fast, his little body wriggling excitedly on Happy's arm, drawing a chuckle from both of them.

"We can talk about it when we get home, okay?" Happy suggested, earning a genuinely grateful look from his Old Lady, a look that said 'you don't have to do that', whose hip he gently squeezed. "But first, show me your lizard, okay?"

"Okay!" After Sawyer was back on the ground and running back into the house, Happy cupped Tessa's face in his hands and pulled her into a long, longing kiss.

Sighing contentedly, Tessa's body melted against his, her hands gripping the collar of his kutte as the kiss deepened. Only when they were both out of breath did they lean their foreheads against the other one's, a contented smile on their faces.

"Now are you going to tell me what you had to do while we were here waiting for you?", she asked in a murmur, curiosity evident in her tone.

"Nope." Happy shook his head, grinning as Tessa let out a whine and hit his chest playfully. "Don't be so damn nosy, woman", he said, letting out a raspy laugh as Tessa pouted again. "Is Ma here?"

"Maybe I should keep secrets from you too", she teased, immediately receiving a warning look, whereupon she just hummed and slipped one of her arms around his waist. "No, she's still in town, Rat is helping her. But they should be back soon."

"You're alone here with Sawyer?", Happy asked, not at all happy about it. "I fuckin' told himᅳ"

"Babe, I'm okay, Sawyer's okay", she interrupted the beginning of his rambling, placing a hand against his cheek to steal another kiss from his lips. "I promised not to leave the house, don't be too hard on him."

"Still not what I told him to do", the SAA replied with a grunt, instinctively pulling his Old Lady back into his side as she led the way inside. "Does anyone actually listen to me?"

Feigning hurt, Tessa glared up at him, a playful glint in her brown eyes. "I always listen to you!"

"Sure, keep telling yourself that", he shook his head with a huff, planting a kiss on Tessa's temple before turning his attention to Sawyer as the boy came running down the stairs with a box in his hands.

Happy would still broach the subject with the magazines, but first he wanted to enjoy the moment with the two people he had really missed over the last two days.

ᅳ

MARIA LOWMAN STOOD at her living room window, her arms crossed with a proud smile carved on her face. The white curtains made of old lace gave her an almost clear view of the outside.

The bright sun cast a warm glow over the asphalt of her driveway and the small garden in front of her house. Happy's bike was parked next to the gate, a happily laughing Sawyer with big, curious eyes perched on the Harley. Her son stood right next to the boy, making sure he would catch him in case Sawyer slipped off the seatᅳ but otherwise he let the boy explore on his own.

The older woman couldn't imagine anything better than seeing her son so happy, a broad smile on his otherwise serious, stoic face that was shaped by the past and his lifestyle and spoke volumes. What kind of mother would she be if she didn't memorize this image clearly?

"Pretty nice view, huh?" Tessa, after watching Maria in silence for a while, stepped next to the woman, her own voice thick with emotion. "I never thought I would ever find someone who would take me with a kid and even show interest in Sawyer."

"Jesus!" With a hand placed over her heart, Maria spun around, but then laughed softly before her features became soft but with a hint of determination. "He loves that boy, I can tell you that much, Tessa. Do you see the smile on his face? Haven't seen that since..", Maria thought for a while, finally shaking her head with a sigh. "I've never seen him smile like that. But every time he looks at you or spends time with Sawyer, I just know that he needs you as much as you need him."

A pool of emotions pooled in Tessa's brown eyes, her heart pounding with excitement. That was all she needed to hear to know that Happy felt the same way she did. There was no one who knew Happy better than his mother, so her words had to be true.

"I think I love him, Maria, I mean really love him", Tessa confessed in a whisper, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear with a shy smile. "He's the one for me, without a doubt."

"Oh Mija!" Her tone joyous, matching her expression, Maria pinched Tessa's cheek lovingly, getting a laugh from her in return. "You should tell him that."

"You think? Isn't it too early?" Tessa's brow furrowed doubtfully. "I don't want to scare him away."

"You won't. You young people worry way too much." Grabbing Tessa's arms gently, Maria took a slow, deep breath. "It's never too early to share your feelings. And look at him", her head nodded towards the window. "He's happy. Do you think he would spend so much time with Sawyer if he didn't love you and your boy?"

"No, probably not." Looking out the window again, Tessa felt butterflies flying around in her stomach, her dark lips curling into a smile. Happy now sat behind Sawyer, showing her son what some buttons meant and how to start the engine. "He's the closest thing Sawyer ever had to a father."

"And Happy will be the best father Sawyer could ask for", Maria replied confidently, pride crossing her features.

Not taking her eyes off the two most important men in her life, Tessa chewed on the inside of her cheek. "You think he'll ever see him as a son someday?"

"You know the answer, Mija", Maria just hummed, patting Tessa's shoulder before she headed back to the kitchen to help with the dishes, which the Prospect had once again taken over.

Tessa, on the other hand, stood there for a while, her arms still crossed as she thought about Maria's words. And the woman was rightᅳ deep down Tessa knew the answer. When Happy spotted her, he flashed her a wink, getting a wide smile from Tessa in return. Yeah, she was sureᅳ she wasn't just in love with Happy Lowman, no, she loved him.

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