Cassie's grip around the handle of the pan was tight as she listened to her brother and Happy talk about some club stuff. Nothing serious, otherwise they wouldn't talk that out while she was standing in the kitchen making breakfast for everyone.

Since Kayla's shift ended later than expected she'd asked Cassie if Lily could stay overnight. The brunette could hear the conflict and slight annoyance in her sister in law's voice as they talked over the phone, showing her once more how Kayla hated to leave her daughter with her aunt.

Nevertheless, Cassie told her that it was fine, a part of her glad Kayla had to work longer so she could spend more time with her niece. Maybe some people thought she was stupid for putting up with Kayla's shit show but if this would give her more time with Lily then so be it.

The brunette was relieved as James stood in front of her door early in the morning and not her sister in law. Her morning was ruined already, it didn't need to get any worse. But that happened anyway.

Only a few minutes after James came over to stay for breakfast before he'd take Lily home, Happy came home and sat down at the kitchen table across from James acting like nothing happened.

Well, basically nothing did happen. They weren't a couple and she had no right to be jealous. Yet she stood there, staring out of the window above the stove while aggressively getting breakfast ready. Her mood was ruined after she smelled the whore's perfume on Happy.

“Hey, what's wrong with you today?”, James' voice spoke from behind her, a confused look on his face as his sister threw the pan with the burned bacon into the sink.

“Nothing”, the brunette muttered under her breath, counting to ten in her mind while taking deep breaths before she turned around and faced them with a fake smile. “Couldn't sleep, that's all.”

Which wasn't even a lie. Like said, without Happy she wasn't able to fall asleep anymore and that got on her nerves.

“It wasn't because of Lily, I hope?”, James inquired as guilt flashed in his eyes, knowing how active his daughter could be sometimes even during the night.

“No”, Cassie shook her head quickly, this time a sincere smile hushed over her lips. “She was an angel, slept through the night without a problem.”

James ran a hand over his beard while a relieved sigh slipped past his lips. Cassie noticed the exhausted look on his face and sighed to herself, knowing it was better not to say anything about it. Shit between him and Kayla got bad, like, really bad since they were here. They barely talked anymore. James spending most of his time at the clubhouse while Kayla distracted herself with work.

She felt bad for her brother since Kayla turned into one ugly beast, threatening James with taking Lily away from him. Her sister in law knew exactly that Lily was the only reason why James still kissed her ass sometimes. And Benny was another reason. If he lost custody of Lily now, or had a scandalous divorce, he wouldn't get custody of Benny. Which would mean that the youngest Connor would end up in a fosters home. If that wouldn't be the case James would divorce her ass faster than Kayla could count to three.

“I know you're back to work, but can Lily stay with you from Monday to Tuesday?” James hated to ask his sister for help all the time, especially now that she was working again, but he needed his sister's help.

“Yeah, she can stay overnight. I'd have to ask Gemma if she can watch Lily on Tuesday until my shift's over but I'm sure she'll do it”, Cassie nodded as a a look of worry took over her face. “Why? Club related?”

James shook his head slowly. “I have an appointment in court on Monday. It's being decided if I get custody of Benny. If I get it, I want Kayla out of the house the same day. I know it's going to end in a bad fight, I don't want Lily there.”

Cassie tried to stay serious, not letting the proud look take over her face. Her brother deserved better and it was about time he could finally divorce Kayla. Their fights became worse and they didn't only happen behind closed doors anymore. The whole club had seen them fight and listened to their arguments by now.

“What are you gonna do about Lily?” Cassie hopped on the counter, forgetting for a second that she was responsible for breakfast. But this was more important now.

Since Benny watched some cartoons with Lily in the living room, the adults could talk freely without them hearing anything.

“Really?”, James heaved a sigh as he watched his sister light up a joint this early in the morning, earning not more than a shrug from her. “Are you smoking every morning?”

Happy didn't say anything, he just watched the brunette taking a deep drag, inhaling the smoke deep into her lungs before blowing it out slowly. A cloud of smoke now in the kitchen while the smell of the weed relaxed everyone⸺ James and Happy just didn't want to admit that.

“Not when I have to work, but on the weekends, yes”, she told him with a shrug and raised a brow. “So, what's going to happen with Lily? You don't let her go with Kayla, right?”

“This is getting a little out of hand, Cassie”, James stated simply, not sure what to say anymore. He was just worried. At her question, he ruffled his growing hair. He was definitely in need of a buzz cut again. “I don't know. I mean, what chance do I have? We're in the twenty first century, mom's win the custody battles now.”

“So, you're just giving her up or what?”, Cassie scoffed with shock written all over her face. “You know Kayla won't let you see her again if you don't fight for her!”

“And what am I supposed to do, huh?”, James huffed after he got on his feet. He took the joint from her, holding up a hand to keep her from protesting before he took a deep drag himself, handing it back to her after another hit.

Cassie frowned suspiciously, surprised by her brother taking a hit of her joint. James was a chain smoker but she'd never seen him smoke a joint, which said a lot about how he felt at the moment.

“Well, make sure Kayla stays in Charming so you can see Lily on a regular basis”, the brunette said softly while placing a hand on her brother's shoulder. “Or do everything you can to get sole custody of Lily.”

“I don't wanna take her mother away from her”, the blonde sighed and kicked the chair with his leg, causing it to fall over. “But she's my kid, too, you know? And I know Kayla's gonna do everything to keep her away from all of us!”

“Hey!” Cassie put her joint out in the ashtray after taking another hit before pulling James towards her by his sleeve and wrapping her arms around him, hugging him tightly. “We're here for you, all of us. No one says you need to take her away from Kayla, but she'd do the same. I just don't want Lily to grow up without a father.”

James' arms found a way around her waist, a deep sigh escaping his throat as he felt calmness take over him again. His siblings and Happy were the ones always capable to calm him down. To know he had them to lean on was a big relief, something he was absolutely grateful for.

⸺

After they had finally some breakfast, which  were just pancakes since Cassie had burned the bacon, Benny had left to spend some time with the neighbor kid. The day Benny was able to go back to his old school, something in him blossomed. And also in Cassie and James⸺ it was hope. Hope that Benny would finally go down the right path and make great friends. So far they've been content with the friends he's made and didn't have anything to complain.

Lily was sitting in her high chair, still chewing on her last pancake. Her hands and half of her face covered in strawberry jam. No matter how many times James had wiped her face, the girl refused to stay clean making the others laugh.

“Wanna take a little tour with me? Thought that would be a good idea since you haven't seen much of Charming yet”, Happy eventually spoke up, his eyes landing on the beautiful brunette sipping her third coffee.

“No thanks”, Cassie politely declined, hating herself for it already. But it was better this way, staying out of his way for a while. She had to get her shit together before her jealousy could ruin their friendship.

“Why?”, Happy grunted as he tensed up a bit.

“Yeah, why?”, James cocked a brow. The Cassie he knew would've never turned that offer down. Spontaneous trips, events or whatever were exactly her thing.

“Do I need a reason for everything?”, she exclaimed, getting slightly irritated. How embarrassing would it be if they'd find out the real reason?

“No, but I know something's going on and I wanna know what it is”, James stated simply.

“You're acting all weird since I came home. What happened?”, Happy inquired urgently, slowly getting impatient but also worried.

Cassie's head shot up and in Happy's direction, an almost offended scoff leaving her lips. “What about you wash that whore's perfume off before you're accusing me of acting all weird. Go take a fuckin' shower!”

“Who do you think you're talking to, little girl?”, Happy snarled at her, his eyes almost black as he stared at her. He knew she was a handful, and he loved the fire inside her, but he wouldn't let her talk to him like that. “Don't tell me what to do in my own fucking house.”

Secretly he wasn't angry at her at all, but at himself for not being more careful. He had no idea that sleeping with another woman would hurt Cassie so much, they weren't even together and the brunette never showed any signs of jealousy before.

“You know what, fuck you! You can fuck whoever you want but don't crawl into my bed tonight trying to get me laid!” She got up with a swing that made the chair fall backwards as she stormed out of the kitchen, leaving the two men behind. Happy's jaw clenched while James couldn't help but snort a laugh.

“What's so funny?”, Happy snarled at his best friend, who apparently found the whole situation funny.

“Nothing, I just never knew the two of you were this serious”, James shrugged with a smirk, getting his fussing daughter out of her high chair after she got startled by Cassie's chair falling backwards. “A jealous Cassie. Haven't seen that yet. Good luck, bro.”

“Because we aren't”, the SAA growled lowly, putting a toothpick between his lips before turning around to stare out of the window, his hands resting on the counter.

“Yeah? Then why is it bugging you so much that she found out? I'm not stupid, man, I know you long enough now”, James sighed deeply. Happy's body language gave away how much this situation bothered him. Certainly because he cared about Cassie, a lot.

“I can't get her out of my god damn mind”, Happy spoke through gritted teeth, the toothpick almost breaking under the pressure of his clenched jaw. “I just needed some distraction.”

“So, you like her more than you want to admit?” A smile now printed on his lips while Lily bounced up and down on his lap. The thought of Happy and his little sister becoming a thing was a nice thought. With him by her side James knew Cassie would be safe and loved. Something he wanted for her since the day she was born. A happy future.

“Doesn't matter, it's doomed to fail”, Happy huffed, his chest feeling heavier than usual.

“Why?”, James frowned even though Happy didn't even look at him. “I mean, you're banging my sister since a while now, not that I want to hear about that though. If both of you have feelings for each other then just fuckin' go for it, man.”

“She told you?” Happy turned around quickly, and a hint of shock flashed in his dark, dull eyes.

“Shit, no”, James chuckled and shook his head, kinda enjoying the shocked and slightly disgusted look on his best friend's face. “But like I said, I'm not stupid. That shit already started before she moved out of my house and into the apartment with you. You guys weren't exactly quiet and my bedroom was just down the hall. It was no fun hearing your name fall from my sister's mouth almost every night.”

“Why did you never say anything?”, he asked with a grunt.

Happy didn't know anything like shame, he never gave a shit about anyone feeling uncomfortable, but he would have spared his best friend from hearing his sister moan his name by taking Cassie to the clubhouse. But they just had more privacy at her, Kayla's and James' house.

“Because I knew she was safe with you. If I would've said something⸺ you might have walked away from her thinking this was what I wanted”, James shrugged slightly, a weak smile on his lips. “I always hoped the two of you would end up together. The way her eyes light up the moment she sees you⸺ that was something I always wished I had with Kayla.”

Finally, the toothpick broke under the pressure of Happy's jaw as he listened to his friend. Was he really so blind that he never realized that Cassie felt more for him? And now he felt the same way and still he didn't think that a relationship was a good idea.

He was dark, dangerous, ruthless, merciless and cruel sometimes. Someone who enjoyed torturing people couldn't be with a person like Cassie who was the complete opposite.

Yeah, maybe she was fucked up, too. But in a different way. He would only bring her more heartache, cause more problems she didn't need.

“I'm no good for her, James. Maybe it's better that she's pissed”, Happy shrugged slightly.

“Or maybe you're exactly what she needs to feel something, anything again.” James stood up and brotherly patted Happy's shoulder, balancing Lily on his hip while picking up the toddler's diaper bag. “Convince her to take that little trip with you, stay at a motel or somewhere nice with her for the night. I'll pick Benny up later.”

Happy ran a hand over his face as he watched his friend leave the kitchen, Lily waving at him with a happy smile on her face before they left the house.

Was it possible that James was right? Maybe he was what Cassie needed, and vice versa. Some light in his life would do him some good, get him out of the darkness he drowned in everyday. The Croweater was nothing but distraction. Hell, he even had to think about Cassie to get hard. This had to mean something, right? He just wasn't sure if he liked that or not.