A few hours later the wedding was still in full swing and Cassie couldn't be happier. It went exactly how she had always imagined it. Everyone was eating, drinking and dancing. Well, the women were dancing. The others sat around the table and talked about God and the world enjoying the time together. None of the kids was tired yet and still sat around the kids table drawing, talking and doing some crafting. Now and then they snatched some fruits or cupcakes from the big table.

She also had her first dance with her brother after she had practically forced Happy to dance with her. With a grunt and muttering something incoherent he eventually agreed and actually danced with her. And it was one of the best and most intimate moment in her life.

Even Benny danced with her which meant a lot to her. He was a teenager, what teenager would dance with their sister on her wedding day? Maybe he also did it to impress his new girlfriend who he brought with him. It made Cassie smirk as she thought back to the moment when the teenage girl awed to that.

Meanwhile she wore a comfortable and shorter purple dress so that she could take care of the kids and didn't have to constantly worry about getting the dress dirty. Plus, it was easier with it on the dance floor.

She planted a kiss on Happy's lips when Callum started crying, probably because he was getting tired, and stood up with her son in her arms.

"I'll put him to bed, I'll be right back", she whispered against Happy's lips as he grabbed her arm and kissed her again.

"Alright, call out if you need anything, little girl", he rasped and ran a hand over his son's head before Cassie went inside.

After quickly preparing him a bottle in the kitchen, she went upstairs to the nursery, changed his diapers and changed him into his romper to sleep before washing his face and hands with a washcloth, telling him a story that she knew from her childhood while doing so. That's what she always did while she got him ready for bed.

With him on her arm, she sat down in the nursing chair and fed him with the bottle. Callum wrapped his tiny fingers around one of her fingers, which he always did when he was being fed, his grip strong as always. With a proud smile she watched him as he slowly fell asleep, snuggled up against her. If someone had told her a year ago that she was going to be a mother and that she would love it, she would have shaken her head.

But exactly in such simple moments like these right now she was glad that Happy had remained stubborn, that he had always encouraged her. The brunette had always had doubts about being a good mother, but the doubts were gone. She would do anything for Callum and just the thought that she had almost aborted him hurt her every time.

Cassie sat the bottle aside and got up, slowly putting Callum into his crib. It was a warm night so she didn't cover him with the blanket, which was safer anyway. At least that's what Gemma had told her shortly after Callum was born.

Grabbing the baby monitor, she left the room and closed the door behind her, leaving it ajar. She left the hall light on and went back downstairs to find Tara sitting on the couch, a glass of whiskey in her hand. It was a rare sight to see the doctor drinking alcohol and the way Tara sat there, depressed and all alone, made Cassie sigh.

After a moment of hesitation, she sat down next to Tara, who frowned suspiciously, and gave her a weak smile.

"Thanks for not causing any trouble. I really appreciate that", the brunette said honestly, thinking this was a good start to start a conversation.

"Why should I? I never planned on ruining your day, I just wanted to be with my kids", Tara replied, calmer than expected.

Cassie felt guilty as she processed Tara's words. Maybe she really could have reacted nicer earlier.

"Look, I'm sorry about before. I wasn't really fair." Cassie bit down on her lip after letting out a frustrated sigh. "I was just so pissed when you showed up. Just when I started to trust you again you left. I know there was a threat and I get that you were scared but⸺ you promised not to run away from problems anymore. And then you didn't answer Gemma's or Jax' calls and I thought you were bailing."

As she listened, Tara wrinkled her nose before downing the brown liquor in her glass. She then looked up and sighed deeply.

"I wasn't really fair either. Running away again made it look like I lied the whole time and didn't mean anything I promised you and Jax. But I only realized that once I was already gone. The reason why I didn't answer any calls was because I felt stupid. I was afraid of getting judged again", the doctor explained meekly, her eyes still on Cassie whose features slowly softened.

"Why didn't you just come back? Show all of us that you weren't bailing?", Cassie asked, her tone a lot softer than before.

"That's what I did. A little late but I came back. I never wanted to stay away, I just needed to find the courage first to come back", Tara sighed. "I'm sorry⸺ for everything that happened while I was gone. Jax filled me in."

Cassie's lips formed in a thin line before she gave the doctor a nod, trying to give her a weak smile. Those memories were still painful as hell and triggered something in her, nevertheless she had to slowly start to process the whole thing.

"It's over and Happy is still here, that's all that matters", the brunette's voice was shaking while she blinked away the tears and quickly changed the subject to lighten up the mood. "I don't mind if you sit down with us. I mean, there's still a free chair."

"Yeah, that's really a good thing." The doctor wasn't lying, she was actually happy for Cassie that her husband was still here. Raising a brow in surprise, Tara looked at Cassie. "You sure? I really don't want to bother anyone."

"I'm sure", Cassie smiled and stood up, holding her hand out for the doctor to take it. Maybe it was time to get over all the past shit and forgive her. She made a mistake, a fucking big mistake ⸺ but deep down she knew that Tara was trying really hard. "Besides, I'm sure there's someone waiting for you. Jax glanced at you the whole time while you were still outside."

With a smile, Tara grabbed the brunette's hand as help to get back on her feet and grimaced sceptically. "I'm not so sure about that, he asked for a divorce when I came back. There's nothing to save anymore."

"You can't know if you don't try. Just trust me, I have a feeling", Cassie hummed before leading the other brunette outside with her, gently pushing her to where Jax sat. She herself sat down again next to Happy and put the baby monitor on the table, resting her head on her husband's shoulder after he put an arm over her, whispering the cutest things into her ear that made her smile widely. Sure, she already knew his sweet side, but today he seemed extra sweet.

⸺

The next morning Cassie woke up early and yet the bed next to her was empty and cold, making her frown. Rubbing her eyes, she sat up, swung her legs out of bed and walked into the bathroom which was attached to the bedroom. She took a quick shower after throwing her hair in a messy bun, brushed her teeth afterwards and got dressed a fresh pair of underwear and a shirt from Happy before she made her way downstairs only to find her husband, her two brothers, Lyla and Lily sitting on the couch.

A smile took over her face as she saw Callum in Lily's arms, James next to her to make sure she was holding him right while Happy listened to Benny as he told him about the job that Nero had offered him. She assumed the older kids were still asleep in the guest bedroom.

"There's the wife", Lyla smirked and got up only to throw her arms around Cassie's neck the next moment. "You looked so pretty yesterday! I'm still in shock."

"Oh come on, now you're exaggerating", Cassie chuckled after she pulled away to pour herself some coffee into a cup. Taking the first sip made her sigh softly. She then walked over to her husband who pulled her onto his lap, his hand resting on the back of her neck.

"She ain't. You looked fucking perfect, little girl", he rasped against her lips before he gave her a longing kiss. There were too many people in the house last night to get her to moan his name but once they'd be gone he would show her what she missed out on last night.

Cassie deepened the kiss for a moment, letting out a pleasant sigh as Happy squeezed her hips and pulled her even closer. Only when James cleared his throat she pulled away with a smirk plastered on her face.

"Gross", Benny grimaced, earning a slap on the arm with the back of Happy's hand making him chuckle. "What?! She's still my sister, dude!"

"Dude?", Cassie gave her little brother an amused look. "I guess I have to get used to the teenager slang."

"It's worse when you live with him", James let out a raspy laugh after earning a glare from his brother, who broke out in laughter only a moment later.

"I bet", Cassie chuckled and shook her head, sighing. "I really gonna miss you guys."

“Oh I'm gonna miss you, too! Can't believe my best friend is leaving”, Lyla let out a sigh, lowering her head. “But I know you're the happiest here and that's all that matters.”

“Yeah, it is”, James mumbled, the emotions in his voice thick before he cleared his throat. “But I need you to visit every now and then. All three of you.”

“We aren't out of the world, just a few hours away”, Happy rasped, his arm still loosely draped over his wife's petite waist. “And we have enough space for you guys to stay when you come up here.”

“I'll visit so often you guys are gonna be annoyed as hell”, Benny smirked and Cassie believed every word he said, which made her laugh and Happy grunt to himself.

“If you get to annoying we just let you sleep at the clubhouse or I'm gonna call Lee and Samantha to pick you up”, Cassie replied with a smirk only to get playfully smacked on her arm, which in return Benny earned himself a slap on the back of his head from Happy.

“What did I tell you? Respect your sister”, the SAA grinned at the teenager. Even though it was only a playful smack, Cassie was still the older one.

“I have nothing but respect for her”, Benny chuckled and rubbed the back of his head where Happy had hit him. “Isn't there a chance you'll come back to Cali? Not even in a few years?”

“No, this is our home. Always had been”, Happy answered matter of factly, giving Cassie's waist a gentle squeeze when she gave him a small smile.

“You aren't coming back with us, auntie?” Lily looked at all of them, a gasp leaving her lips after she heard the news for the first time. If Jame hadn't had his hands on Callum Lily probably would've dropped him due to the brief shock moment.

Lily's sad expression really hurt Cassie. She loved her niece like her own child and had helped to raise her, at least Lily had been with her pretty often and the two were an unbeatable team. The fact that she would only see the four year old every few months made her swallow. But Tacoma was the only place she could be truly happy, especially with Happy and Callum right here in the house she grew up in.

“No sweetie, Happy and I are staying here with Callum and Opie. I'm really going to miss you, but I promise to visit you soon”, she promised the little girl whose bottom lip started to tremble. Cassie slipped off Happy's lap, walked over and scooped her up in her arms after James took Callum.

“Don't cry, baby, you can always call me”, she muttered against the now crying girl's hair and rocked her from side to side.

While Happy watched his wife comfort their niece he realized once again that he definitely married the right woman. Unlike him, she knew how to be sensitive, how to comfort someone. She was his perfect match and he was proud to call her his wife. He genuinely felt sorry for the others who would miss Cassie and maybe even him. But Tacoma was their home, and as long as Cassie was happy, he wasn't going to change that. This place was the one he wanted his son to grow up.

“I'm gonna miss you, auntie. A⸺and I'm gonna miss Happy and Callum and Opie”, Lily sniffled between her sobs, wiping her running nose with the back of her hand.

God, that sight just broke Cassie's heart.

“We're gonna miss you too, baby”, the brunette hardly whispered since she was trying to swallow the lump in her throat and hold back the tears.

This would be one painful goodbye tomorrow when they had to leave but Cassie didn't regret her decision. She was still incredibly grateful that Happy and Lee made a life in Tacoma possible for her and as painful as saying goodbye would be tomorrow, she knew it was the right thing to stay here.

⸺

authors note; the next chapter will have a little time jump and maybe a little drama in it. 🖤