A/N: So this is what happens when my brain won't shut off at night ... It's a little one-shot set during my Kozik/Tasha series, but you don't have to have read it at all to get this - I will add a little note of explanation though, but at the bottom since I don't like giving much away right at the start, which should plug any info gaps. Would love to know what you think, because I'd still like to go back to this series, fix a few plot holes, finish Sparks and add a little more to Koz and Tash's journey ...

But for now, hope you enjoy!

Monster Killer

"Daddy ..."

Even though it had been a few years since their move from the bustling streets of Tacoma to the sleepy town of Charming - population 14,643 - he still caught shit from his brothers back in the city about the change of pace. Asking him when he was coming back out of retirement, just the usual good-natured jibes.

The relocation had cost him his sergeant-at-arms patch, first to Tig and then Chibs when the changing of the guard came about, but no one could underestimate his experience or abilities. He was still considered very much a valuable asset to his club. That, of course, meant he was still front and centre when the shit hit the fan.

There were always still deals to be done, threats to be overcome. And with the Charming contingent catching more than its fair share of trouble, considering the seemingly tranquil location, the last few days spent on a run with Happy and a couple of his other brothers had been long and hard. So, even though he'd missed his family like hell, what he needed right now was to sleep like the dead in the comfort of his own bed.

"Daddy ..."

The soft voice wiggled its way into his subconscious and quirked his lips in a lopsided smile even in his sleep. He never grew tired of hearing himself called that – of being reminded just how much his path had changed over the years. From messed up teenager to marine, washed up marine to junkie, strung out junkie to Son of Anarchy.

And now the ruthless Son had somehow become a husband to the love of his life; a father to their beautiful children. One of whom, as he rolled over and cracked an eye open to investigate, was currently stood by his bed in her bright pink smiley face pyjamas. The moonlight through the window gave just enough light to show her trying to scrub away the tears that were spilling down her face with one small fist.

"Daddy, I think I had a m-monster in my room," Lily whispered, clutching her favourite teddy-bear by his paw.

"Oh, angel, don't cry," Kozik sighed, rubbing a weary hand over his face before reaching for his little girl and scooping her – bear and all – up onto his lap. "It was just a bad dream, baby. You remember when we talked about dreams and how they're not real?"

"But it was still scary," his wide-eyed daughter told him, still obviously distressed by the whole ordeal. "It was hurting my m-mommy! It was making her cry really bad an' it wouldn't go away."

Hating to see her earnest little face crumple all over again, Kozik made a mental note to ask Jax what the hell his sons were watching on tv these days as he cuddled her close and tried his best to soothe her. "Hey, come on now – you know I ain't ever gonna let some big dumb monster hurt your mommy. Look, she's right there and she's fast asleep, Lily. All tucked up and cosy, like you should be."

But, although she did turn to look to look at Tasha still sleeping peacefully, Lily simply buried her face against her father's neck again after a second and mumbled something he couldn't quite catch.

"What was that, kiddo?" he tried, with a look of confusion on his face when she shook her head and refused to repeat it. "Want to whisper it?"

She considered that for a moment and then nodded hesitantly, leaning up to cup her hands around his ear and whispering in a still tearful little voice. "Is mommy going to go away and leave me?"

"Of course not, baby," Kozik frowned. "Mommy loves you. Where do you think she could ever go without you?"

"Heaven," Lily said solemnly. "Like Kenny and Ellie's mommy. And Uncle Happy's mommy."

Ah. Starting to see what must be at the root of this all, her father sighed and wrapped her up in another cuddle, feeling little arms wrap tightly around his neck in return. "Lily, you know Uncle Happy's mommy was much older than yours and remember how we said she was very sick? So sick that it was much nicer for her to go and be with the angels?"

"Mm-hmm ... Was Kenny and Ellie's mommy sick too?"

Starting to wish he'd woken his wife up to deal with this in the first place, Kozik shook his head slowly. "No, she wasn't sick," he admitted. "But she had a bad accident, sweetheart – the kind that I'll never let happen to your mommy. 'Cause that's my job, isn't it? Looking after both my girls."

Lily considered that for a moment and seemed, thankfully, to accept it. "And Max?"

"And Max," he agreed, gently wiping the remaining tears from her cheeks with his thumbs.

"And Leo?" she added, apparently not wanting her baby brother forgotten if they were going to be battling monsters. Even if he had come second to her teddy-bear.

"Of course, Leo too."

"And Poppa Dan?"

"And Poppa Dan," Kozik nodded, even though he was pretty sure his father-in-law might have something to say about the suggestion it was anyone's job to look after him.

"And Uncle Happy?"

That one just wouldn't fly though and he smiled, planting a kiss on his thoughtful little girl's head. "I don't think Uncle Happy needs much looking after, baby – I think the monsters might be scared of him."

"That's not what the lady said," Lily shrugged, wriggling out of her father's arms and under the covers to peek out at him. "Daddy, can me and Max stay with you and mommy?"

Once ruthless sergeant or not, he didn't have the heart to refuse that little face – the miniature of her mother's, but with his eyes – and he inwardly groaned at the thought of her teenage years, realising she already had him wrapped around her finger. "Just for tonight," he warned, tucking the bear in beside her and brushing a stray lock of silky blonde hair back behind her ear. "Hey, Lily, what did the lady say about Uncle Happy?"

"That she knew 'sactly what he needed and she was going to look after him," the little girl shrugged, before giving a huge yawn and missing the look of amusement on Kozik's face. "What happens if the monsters come back?" she asked, as she snuggled down sleepily.

"Don't worry, darlin'," he told her confidently, laying back down himself and curling a protective arm around wife, baby and bear. "Daddy'll shoot them."

Monster killer ... He liked the sound of that.

End.

A/N: For those not in the know, I wrote a series featuring Kozik and his old lady Tasha (Casting Shadows, Getaway, Chasing Lights and the unfinished prequel, Sparks). They've already been together a long time by the start of the first fic, making Tasha actually more established as an old lady than Tara or Lyla - but she'd spent most of her time back then in Tacoma, rather than Charming.

By the end of Chasing Lights, she and Koz had two kids together - Lily and Leo - and a third on the way. To be totally honest, I haven't fixed my timeline so I was deliberately vague here about the kids' ages - I'd normally be so particular about details like that, but I intend to have it all straightened out when I go back and fix up the series. Lily is probably about five or six here and Leo maybe two, even though that doesn't fit with the end of Chasing Lights ...

Poppa Dan is Tasha's dad, who we also met in Chasing Lights. Everything else should, I hope, speak for itself ... Thanks for reading!