Together with Gabby, the couple was on their way to the clubhouse after making a quick stop at Luann's to pick up their daughterᅳ who, by the way, was sitting in her car seat in a princess costume and happily trying to sing along to the songs that were playing on the radio.

How often had Luann been unable to deny the three-year-old's wish and allowed her to wear the dress that Gabby usually only wore on birthdays or when she felt like dressing up.

"Do you think it's the right decision?" No longer looking out the window, Stella looked over at Happy. "Or should we wait and not tell anyone about it? I mean, there's a chance that a surgery will be enough. That way no one would have to find out that I was ever sick."

"You're sick?" Gabby let out a startled gasp after she stopped singing, her eyes widening. "Do you need a doctor, mommy?"

Stella shook her head quickly and looked back at Gabby, who had apparently been more attentive than the raven-haired woman had thought. "No baby. I just hurt myself at work, you know?"

"Mommy will be fine, bug", Happy added with a grunt, squeezing his wife's leg encouragingly as his eyes landed on her while they were standing at a red light. "No, I want everyone to know."

"So that everyone can check on me and make sure I don't lift a finger when you're not there?", she asked with an amused undertone.

She knew Happy well enough by now and the grumble that escaped his throat just a moment later confirmed her suspicions. That was the main reason why Happy wanted everyone to knowᅳ and she thought it was pretty cute.

"You know I love you, but you can be really stubborn", he reasoned as he kept driving. "I don't want you to do certain things until you're feeling good againᅳ and I want the others to keep an eye on it."

"You know I wouldn't do anything to make things worse right now, right?", she asked with a sigh, gently circling the tip of her nail over his tattooed forearm. "I may be stubborn, but you also know that I'm not stupid."

"I know", he answered with a curt nod. "Still, I know it's hard for you to say no when someone needs help. And I fuckin' love that about youᅳ but right now you just have to take a step back."

As selfish as that sounded, Stella knew Happy was right. "It will definitely be a challenge", she noted with a sigh.

"That's exactly why I want everyone to know about this, little girl. So they won't even ask in the first place." Happy turned around the corner and soon drove through the gate to TM before parking Stella's car next to Gemma's SUV. Then Stella got his full attention while she was nervously chewing on her lower lip.

Sighing, he placed a hand against the back of Stella's head, burying his fingers in her hair. “We can do this, you hear me?”

With her doe brown eyes she looked into his. There was something about his look that always gave her some hope back. "I hope soᅳ I really do."

"And I know it", the SAA insisted, pulling her head closer. His lips captured hers before he released his grip on her. "Come on, the others are waiting."

"Wait inside, I'll be there in a minute." Stella stayed in the car for a moment while Happy got Gabby out of the car, watching as the three-year-old ran towards Luann, who had parked her car shortly after them and got out.

Concern crossed the older blonde's face as she glanced at Stella through the windshield, causing the raven-haired woman to let out a deep sigh.

After they had asked Luann to come to the clubhouse before they had left hee house and inform all the Old Lady's that they needed to come too, Stella was sure that Luann suspected that something serious was going on. Above all, the older woman knew that Happy had called all the members because he needed them all at the table.

After what felt like an eternity and after everyone had disappeared inside, Stella opened the door, slipped out of the car and glanced at the row of bikes. Apparently everyone was already here, including the women as she spotted Charlotte's car.

As soon as she stepped through the door, all the women's eyes were on her. Opie disappeared behind the two large wooden doors. He was the last to enter the room and then closed the door behind him after giving Stella a quick smile.

"What's wrong, Stella?" Gemma approached the young woman, her hands on her hips as she felt nervous. "There's a reason why you wanted all of us to show up, right?"

"Yeah, there's a reason." A faint smile formed on Stella's dark lips that reflected her uncertainty. "Sit down, I'll fill you in."

While Gemma impatiently sat down next to Luann, who had already fallen silent and was just waiting to find out what was going, Stella took a moment to greet Donna and Charlotte with a hug. The latter already had an idea of what was going on and therefore sat at the table with a miserable expression on her face.

Gabby was sitting at a table a little further away with Abel and Thomas, but Stella asked one of the Croweaters to go outside with them so they could play on the small playground with the swing set. With a smile, she waved at the kids, still keeping her facade up, but it crumbled as soon as she sat down and looked around, making eye contact with everyone for a short moment.

"I have cervical cancer", she blurted out, just as she had when she told Happy about it a few days ago. "And it's not sure how far this has spread yetᅳ but I think it's only fair to let you know. Becauseᅳ"

Stella took a deep, shaky breath that she tried to smile away. "Because I have to admit that I probably need all the help I can get at the momentᅳ especially if my condition gets worse."

There was silence, so quiet you could hear a needle drop, while dismay set in and silenced all the women, each of them too shocked to react immediately. The first to be heard from was Luann, whose sniffling broke the silence.

Trying desperately to remain emotionally strong, she quickly wiped a few tears from the corners of her eyes, to no avail. "I had a bad feeling when you didn't want to tell me what appointment you had earlier."

"I was really hoping it was just a stupid cyst that was giving you such trouble", Charlotte murmured, a sad, worn-out look on her flawless face. "That's not fucking fair."

"No it's not." Donna now spoke up when the big lump in her throat gave her the opportunity to do so. Compassionately, she reached for Stella's hand since she was sitting right next to her and leaned forward a little. "But there's still a chance you're going to survive this, right?"

"There's a chance of healing, isn't there?" Gemma's voice trembled, but at the same time she sounded almost angry. "This fucking disease can't take another person away from us! What about Gabby? She needs you, we need you!"

Gemma's little emotional outburst probably surprised Stella the most. If anyone was in control of their emotions, it was Gemma Teller. Apparently that wasn't the case right now and for a moment Stella wished she had just kept the news to herself now that she was looking at five sad faces.

Venus was the last to speak, looking genuinely upset. "This is terrible, sweetheart. I can't imagine how you must be feeling right now", she said sympathetically as she brushed a strand of hair from her face and folded her hands on the table. "What did the doctors say? What can we help you with?"

"So first of all, to give all of you some peace; there is definitely still a chance I'll survive this", Stella let everyone know, whereupon Donna and Venus let out a deep, relieved sigh while nodding to themselves.

A quiet sob escaped Charlotte's lips. As relieved as she was, she was still afraid her best friend could die. Gemma, on the other hand, immediately gained new hope while Luann continued to bathe in her fear of losing Stella. She would only be at peace again when the young woman who was like a daughter to her was cancer-free again.

"I assume you have to get chemo?" Charlotte asked cautiously, but Stella didn't get that far as she tried to explain what the doctor had said.

"You have cancer?!" The all-too-familiar voice didn't awaken joy in Stella, instead only the all-too-familiar feeling of anger and disappointment arose within her.

Turning around, Stella studied the blonde woman with nothing but disgust. Her former best friend had become the spitting image of Stella's former bully. A polo dress paired with expensive high heels and Gucci sunglasses sitting on top of her head, as well as a sinfully expensive bag made of real leather hung in the crook of the blonde's arm, whose hair was cut down to her shoulders.

Kate Teller, also known as SAMCRO'S princess, no longer had anything about her that resembled her former self.

There was a look of dismay on her make-up covered face, but the dismay didn't reach Kate's blue eyesᅳ her feigned sympathy was nothing more than a facade.

Too perplexed to react properly, Stella let out a bitter snort. "You gotta be kidding me."

"What do you want here?" The matriarch stood up, for a brief moment even forgetting her concern for Stella as anger took over as Gemma stormed towards her daughter. "You have no right to be here anymore, Kate. I told you to choose wiselyᅳ and you chose the bitch instead of your own family."

"First of all, Jessie isn't a bitch, and second of all, I'm only here because I wanted to let you know that I'm moving to Europe and wanted to see my nephew's again", Kate explained coldly as she looked at her mother with a slightly disdainful look. "But it seems like you've already cut me out of your life."

"Don't even try to make me look like the bad one", Gemma warned, pointing a finger in Kate's face. "You betrayed us, especially betrayed ᅳ something like that is unforgivable."

"Wow, looks like Stella has taken my place here", Kate huffed offended before her gaze slowly wandered to her former best friend. "Let's see how long if you have cancer anyway."

"You know what, Kateᅳ" Annoyed, Stella stood up and approached Kate with her arms crossed over her chest. "Just fuck you. You gave up everything for a woman who has a shitty , ugly personality that seems to have already rubbed off on you."

"You have no idea about Jessie and who she really is", Kate seethed, her nostrils flaring as she moved even closer to Stella. "You can't punish someone for life for what they did as teenagers."

"Oh, can't I?" Irritated, Stella shook her head, swallowing. "You've probably forgotten what she did. Bullying, public humiliation, tortureᅳ and you really think a person like her can ever change?"

"Have you ever thought about you being the problem, huh?" Kate asked with pure arrogance, her voice brimming with venom. "If you hadn't always been a freak, others would've had no reason to bully you. But I see you still stick to your style, weirdo."

When Luann had had enough and saw how upset Stella got, she came over and came to a stop in front of Kate. "Are you really trying to tell Stella that it was her own fault that she got bullied?"

"I mean...", Kate let her gaze wander up and down Stella's body. "Look at her, no one walks around like that. She looks like she's already dead."

"Oh you bitch!" Charlotte, with her hands clenched into fists, pushed past Stella and punched Kate in the face, causing Kate to sway to the side. With her lips pressed together, Charlotte rubbed her knuckles, which hurt more than expectedᅳ but it had been worth it.

"Stupid whore!" After Kate regained her balance, she pressed her palm against her aching jaw. "Who the fuck do you think you are?!"

"Your brother's Old Lady, so be careful how you talk to me", Charlotte hissed at the younger Teller. "You're nothing but a piece of shit if you really got married to someone who gets a kick out of humiliating other people. And then you also have the nerve to protect that person. And you've called yourself Stella's best friend."

"Shut up before you embarrass yourself, sweetie." Kate angrily stared into her brother's Old Lady's eyes before lifting her hands to push Charlotte. Luckily, Stella managed to catch her best friend before she could fall.

"Get out", Gemma demanded shakily, nothing but disappointment on her face. "I don't want to see you here or anywhere else anymore. I told you that three years ago and I will tell you again."

"You are my motherᅳ mine!" Disgusted, Kate straightened her shoulders and shouldered her overly expensive bag. "You should have my back and be happy for me!"

"Happy for you? That you became such an arrogant, greedy bitch and lost all the qualities you learned from us, from me?" Gemma's increasing tone caused the two big wooden doors to open and the guys to walk out of the room.

Jax looked to the side, shaking his head with a bitter snort. "What the hell are you doing here?", he asked as he gave Kate a threatening look. "We told you that you are no longer welcome here."

Stella reflexively grabbed Happy's arm as he was about to storm towards the blonde woman, hoping he wouldn't do anything stupid.

"Don't Hap, she's not worth it", she pleaded quietly, afraid that Kate might sue him. "Let's go home, please."

"God, that's pathetic. He could get someone so much better than you", Kate scoffed, secretly bursting with jealousy. "You must be really good in the sheets if he keeps a pile of misery for that long."

"You wanna say that again, bitch?!" Happy barked across the room after it took Tig and Opie to stop the SAA from attacking the Teller woman.

Even though everyone here was in favor of Kate being punished for her actions, no one wanted to have to visit the killer in prison in the future.

After letting out another huff, Jax walked towards his sister, one eyebrow raised as he looked her up and down before he got in her face. "Get out of my clubhouse before I give Tig and Opie permission to let go of Happy", he clicked his tongue before the smallest grin tugged at the corners of his mouth. "And I promise you that this isn't going to end well for you."

"You're all a bunch of losers." Kate started to leave, but turned around again. "I'm really happy that soon I won't have to live in a country with the scum you've become!"

Jax' gaze darkened, his bright blue eyes now staring into his sister's soul, causing her to stumble back a little as he came a little too close for her liking. She wouldn't admit that her own brother scared her, but the fear was written all over her face.

"I'll give you ten seconds before I unleash Happy on you, Kate", Jax threatened, fishing a cigarette out of his pack. "Better hurry up", he added as he lit the cancer stick and blew the smoke into his sister's face.

Groaning, Kate waved the smoke out of her sight before she gave everyone another scowl and angrily stomped out of the clubhouse that had once been like her second home.

Only when they heard the car's engine start did Tig and Opie let go of Happy, who, pissed as hell, adjusted his robe and wiped his chin with the back of his hand before he pulled Stella close to him. Gently pushing her black hair back, he looked down at her.

"Are you okay, little girl?", he asked, his hand resting on her cheek while his thumb slid down her cheekbone.

Raising a corner of her mouth, Stella looked up at him and nodded weakly. "I just want to go home. Please.."

"Yeah, sure", he nodded his head, knowing that she wouldn't open up about  how she was really feeling in front of everyone.

And he knew that the bitch's appearance had ripped open old wounds and could destroy all of Stella's built-up self-confidence again. He saw the conflict, the uncertainty in her warm brown eyes and felt how tense her whole body was, all he had to do was pay attention to her body language.

"Stella." Jax walked up to the couple before pulling the raven-haired woman into a tight hug; he had passed his cigarette to Charlotte beforehand. "I'm so sorry",he mumbled against her hair as she leaned into his embrace, burying her face on his shoulder.

"We're here for you. Whatever you needᅳ just ask", he added with a deep sigh. Stella's fate also affected him and he, like everyone else, would do anything for the young woman.

Her slim arms wrapped around his waist, her palms pressed tightly against the leather on his back. "I will, thanks, Jax", she whispered, the big lump back in her throat.

When he let go of her, she was hugged by everyone, all of them telling her that she could ask for help at any time and had everyone's support. Each of the bikers was shocked to hear about the cancer diagnosis, even anxious insideᅳ and they all wanted to support Happy and Stella as best they could. Financially and emotionally.

The couple bid everyone a goodbye so they could go home while Charlotte offered that Gabby could stay with Jax and her so that the two of them could let everything sink in first.

Neither Happy nor Stella wanted to leave Gabby with someone else for too long at the moment, but both knew it was the better solution for tonight.

Both lost in their own thoughts, Happy still seething while Stella's gaze was pensively directed out the window, the whole ride was silent.

The cancer and Kate's appearance were slowly but surely becoming too much for Stella. Feeling overwhelmed was still an understatement. The raven-haired woman felt absolutely lost and afraid, causing quite a lot of pressure within her.