Thanks for everyone who's read this! You guys who reviewed were awesome and I want to thank everyone who kept this story going! Your reviews definitely kept us motivated. As of right now, we won't be doing the sequel, but we might at some point. As always, big thanks to Chevygirl who co-wrote this with me. I do not own anything in this chapter, besides Nora, everything else belongs to their rightful owners.

Chapter 54

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They had been working so hard to get back to how things used to be. She'd been trying so hard to trust him again. But every time he came home late from a party, Nora couldn't help but wonder if he'd messed around again. Especially those nights when he didn't get home till after she was in bed. He'd climb between the sheets next to her and she would sometimes catch a whiff of what smelled like cheap perfume. She knew it didn't necessarily mean anything, but the 'what if' was always there in the back of her mind.

It was driving her crazy. The wondering and the occasional fights because she couldn't keep it to herself anymore and Juice was getting pissed because after he had tried so hard to earn her trust back, she still doubted him. They were getting worse, the fights. Like tonight.

He'd been out till nearly four in the morning. Nora had been woken by the baby and had just gotten her back to sleep when he'd quietly made his way down the hall toward their room. Nora pulled the nursery door closed just as he saw her.

He knew what she was thinking. They'd been at each other's throats for the last few weeks and he'd been staying out later and later as a result which only caused her to wonder more and resent him for leaving her at home with their daughter while he went out and partied.

He'd slipped up last week. The first time since she'd been pregnant. He'd been drunk off his ass and couldn't take it anymore. If she was going to continue to treat him like he was fucking around on her, he'd at least give the accusations some credibility.

They glared at each other. He wasn't going to bother denying it if she asked and she knew it, which was why she didn't. They were both at their wit's end.

She walked past him back into their room and he followed silently. Getting back into bed, she felt him slide in behind her and she moved away from him when he tried to wrap an arm around her. The smell of skank heavy on him tonight and she knew for sure this time. She'd seen the look in his eyes. It had been a great big, silent 'fuck you.'

"I'm not doing this anymore, Juice." She said quietly, yet firmly.

He sighed. He didn't have to ask. He knew what she meant. "You think for one second you can take my kid away from me, you're severely mistaken." He replied.

She flipped to her other side to face him. "I hate to say it, but I love you just as much as I did on day one and why the hell we can't make this work is fucking lost one me. I wouldn't wanna hurt you by taking her away from you and I don't want my daughter to grow up without her father, even if he is an asshole. I just can't keep trying for something that's never gonna happen so we need to figure something else out."

"What are you gonna do? Make me move out? Go get a job? Put Delia in daycare? I can't afford a place for both of us and I doubt you can find a job that pays well enough for you to afford one on your own. Not right away anyway."

Nora shook her head. "We'll all stay here. I don't wanna live alone, especially with a baby. And as much as I hate your fucking guts, I don't know if I could live without you. We'll continue the way we are, we'll both be there for Delia, hell we can even fuck every now and then, but no more lying. You wanna screw around with other girls, fine. But don't expect me to stay faithful either."

She saw the anger flash in his eyes, but he kept his mouth shut.

"I will fuck you, but I will never wear your crow." She said with vehemence before turning back over and going to sleep, a single tear sliding down her cheek. She might have given up on their relationship, but she'd never give him up.

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It had taken a few months and a lot of coaxing, but Lana had eventually started to feel normal again after Kozik had died. Hap had been there for her, for once putting something other than the club first. She also had something to look forward to. She was pregnant with Kozik's kid and she had to start taking care of herself.

Happy and Lana were far from being a couple, but Lana still had trouble sleeping most nights. The image of Kozik lying on the ground bleeding out repeating over and over again every time she closed her eyes. The emotional scarring that day had left her with would stay with her forever, she knew that, but Happy's arms around her were like a salve to a deep wound that would never fully heal. He was able to dull her pain, but Kozik would always have a piece of her heart.

She had moved back to Charming and Hap had bought a house, insisting she move in. She normally would've put up a fight, but when he reminded her she would soon have a kid to think about, she gave in. She couldn't support herself and a kid, not on her own. She needed help and would just have to accept that.

They slept in the same bed and after a few months, even had a physical relationship just like they'd always had, but Lana still wasn't sure where Happy stood. Sure he'd promised he'd take care of her and the baby, be there for them, but she was more inclined to believe that was more out of respect for his fallen brother than anything else. She believed him when he said he cared about her, but that didn't change who he was. Happy Lowman was a Son, a killer, and now her protector, but that didn't make him a family man.

They'd fallen into a routine of sorts. Lana took care of the house while Happy found himself coming home most nights. She would usually have dinner ready for him and he was finding he liked it. He liked having someone to come home to, someone that he was comfortable with, that he could trust. She wasn't just some whore, she'd been a constant in his life for nearly the past seven years. He'd just been too stupid to see it before.

Lately, he'd been making an effort to be home every night. He'd told Clay he wouldn't be making any runs for a while. Even on Friday nights when there was a party, he ended up going home eventually. Lana had been too tired to stay out too late the last few months of her pregnancy, so she usually stayed in.

He pulled his bike up to the house around two in the morning and made his way to the door, quietly unlocking it and entering the dark house. Heading down the hall, he stopped at the first room when he saw the nightlight on.

Lana was standing in the middle of the room holding the blonde haired little boy over her shoulder, gently swaying side to side as she tried to get him back to sleep. Her own eyes were closed and he could tell she was exhausted. She had been ever since she had the baby not even a week ago.

Happy walked into the room and Lana looked up at him when she heard his boots on the hardwood floor. He reached out and gently took the baby from her. "Go to bed." He said quietly.

A look of confusion crossed her face. "He's not asleep yet." She said.

"I got him." Happy urged.

Lana was hesitant. She knew Happy wasn't very experienced with kids. Hell, she barely knew what she was doing. She was so tired though and could've laid down on the floor right there and went to sleep. She looked at Evan. Her and Kozik's son. The only thing she had left of him. The baby boy looked so content in Happy's arms.

She gave a small nod and kissed his little blonde head before heading out of the room. She nearly collapsed in bed when she got back to her and Happy's room and was half asleep when she felt the bed dip behind her, waking her up. She didn't move or open her eyes though. When Happy's arm slipped around her waist, she turned over and curled up against him.

"Thank you." She said, referring to so much more than just him taking the baby so she could go back to bed. She didn't think she would've been able to do any of this without him.

He didn't say anything, just pulled her closer and kissed the top of her head.

It was quiet after that and Lana was almost asleep again when Happy spoke. "I wanna put my crow on you, Lana." He whispered.

She thought she was dreaming at first, but when she realized she wasn't, her eyes snapped open and she turned her head up. "How much did you drink tonight?" She asked after a moment.

"I'm serious. I want you to be my old lady. I plan on sticking around and raising that kid as my own, and not just for Kozik. I fuckin' love you, little girl."

Lana just stared at him. She never thought she'd hear those words come out of Happy's mouth and she wasn't sure how to react. Did she want what he was offering? Fuck yes. She had for years, but it had always seemed so unattainable.

Happy leaned over and kissed her while she was still processing what he'd just said. She quickly forgot her surprise and returned the kiss with just as much fervor.

And just like that, there was no doubt about it. Happy was her endgame. He always had been.

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A few days had passed since her last talk with Juice. Things had been awkward since, them not knowing how to act around each other. Juice wasn't leaving, not yet, and she wasn't going to make him. The only thing that seemed to be common ground with them was bonding with Adelia and just spending time with her.

Nora was currently sitting outside the clubhouse with Adelia in her carrier. It was the furthest she could get Lana to meet her. She really needed her best friend's opinion right now. When the brunette came out, she could immediately notice a difference in her. Lana looked . . . well, she looked happy.

The blonde was envious as Lana told her about her pregnancy and the fact Happy was going to step up. They were happily together, granted they were still working out the kinks, but happy none the less.

She didn't have to worry about Happy straying from her. She didn't have to wonder if any of those girls inside were just in his bed. Happy would always come home, something she wasn't sure Juice would do if not just to see Adelia go to sleep. This wasn't right. Juice and she had started out so well, where as Happy and Lana hadn't. Why did they get to be happy when she didn't? It just wasn't fair.

But Nora put on a fake smile and congratulated her friend. She brushed off her questions of how she and Juice were. Lana had more important things to worry about than Nora's sex life, or lack of a one. Sure, she and Juice had agreed to be nothing more than fuck buddies, agreed that they could see other people, but she didn't want to.

As much as she hated the man at times, she loved him. She'd always love him and she knew now with Adelia, he'd always be in her heart. He's always be in her life. He'd always be the man who swept her off her feet when he came to her house with a bullet wound. She'd like to think she was important to him too. Even if she was just the bartender.