~𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝙱𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙸𝙴 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙲𝙻𝚈𝙳𝙴~

𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕦𝕣

The next morning, the happy couple awoke to the smell of lemon pledge and a wave of cold air washing over them. Tig was the first one to stir. "It's too damn early for this tomfuckery," he grumbled, his tone dripping with disdain.

It wasn't that he hated the lead-up to the infamous SAMCRO parties; he just found it tedious. It was like all the croweaters and Gemma were on a cleaning supply-fueled warpath. He couldn't even sit at the bar to eat his breakfast, and it always irked Bellatrix that she wasn't allowed into the kitchen until the party actually started.

In an attempt to avoid any party prep, Bellatrix snuck into the shop to work on her old Harley-Davidson Road King, playing her 1990s country playlist as she worked. After a while, she sensed a second presence in the room. "Hap, I know you're in here. I can smell the Old Spice," she laughed.

The large man stepped out from behind another bike. "Dammit, Chiquita. Haven't gotten to hang out with you since I rolled back into town, and this is how you greet me?!" he exclaimed, feigning offense. Bellatrix rolled her eyes and reached for the socket wrench. "Shut the hell up, Happy. You try running like a scalded dog for days on end," she spat, her frustration evident. Happy pulled the tiny woman into a hug. "I'm sorry, Chiquita. I didn't mean it like that. I was just playing around," said the Tacoma Killer. "So, tell me what's been going on with my favorite red-head." Bellatrix sighed and grabbed a red shop rag. "A lot of stuff, actually. Tig and I are doing great, and Clay's not being an asshole. It's all great," she said, her tone reflecting a mix of relief and contentment. 

Happy and Bellatrix talked for what felt like the rest of the day until Jax stormed into the shop, madder than hell. 

"You wanna tell me why you almost put me in the hospital for messing with you yesterday?!" He practically demanded, his anger palpable. 

The tiny woman turned to face her insufferable stepbrother. "You know damn good and well why I almost killed you. You're the one who had to carry me out of that fucking Mayan crack house after I was kidnapped and gang-raped for three and a half months, Jackson! I was asleep in my goddamn car when it happened! I fought day in and day out to fucking SURVIVE, Jackson. And for you to SLAM on my window the same way that worthless excuse for a human did was unacceptable," Bellatrix said, her voice filled with anger and hurt. "Your actions sent me into fight or flight. When I fell asleep in Stockton, I was safe, protected even. And when I woke up, I thought I was right back where I was three years ago. I was up ALL NIGHT trying to battle flashbacks," Bellatrix said, her voice raw with emotion .

Jax's face fell. He had blocked the memory of placing a broken and bloody Bellatrix into Tig's arms, shaking with white-hot rage. "Trixie... I'm so very sorry. I didn't think that it would trigger you," he said as he pulled his baby sister into a gentle yet protective embrace. The tiny woman's body went limp as she sobbed. "It's okay, big brother. I was just scared," she said between sobs, finding comfort in Jax's embrace.

                                                                                           *** 

That evening, Bellatrix roamed about the party, clad in a tight, black leather mini-skirt, a studded strapless black bustier top, and a pair of black So Kate Christian Louboutin pumps, exuding confidence and allure. She was on the hunt for her Ol' Man, and found him conversing with Clay about a TV show from her and Jax's childhood. Bellatrix wormed her way into Tig's lap, dropping a hello kiss on his lips. 

"For as much as y'all say y'all hated cartoons when your kids were growing up, y'all sure do know a lot about frickin'  DragonTales," she said, jokingly. 

Tig gently tapped his woman's thigh as to say "hush" "Well Sweetheart, as some one who watched you and Prince Charming grow up, I'd say we're allowed to know a lot about DragonTales, You two would practically scream the theme song until somebody who knew how to work the TV put it on for you" He joked.

 Bellatrix rolled her eyes. "Whatever," she mumbled, as Clay took a puff from his cigar. "He ain't kidding, sweet girl. You once walked all the way out to the shop office just to look at me and say 'Daddy, DragonTales' repeatedly. Hell, you, Jax, and Opie all had matching DragonTales sheet sets for years, until we had to toss them because they were threadbare," said her father, matter-of-factly. 

The redhead sighed as she pulled a cigarette from behind her ear. "Fine, but that still doesn't explain why y'all know so much about it," she said, the cancer stick dangling from the corner of her ruby-red lips. 

Tig reached for his woman's cig. "Kinda does, dollbaby. The only time it wasn't playing was when y'all were napping," he said, stealing a drag off the cigarette.

Trixie shifted in Tig's lap. "Alright, change the subject. When's the next fight night, Pops? Some of the CaraCara girls need their butts tore up, and I wanna be the one to do it. Especially that one broad, Ima Idiot, or something." She reached for Tig's Crown Royal and Dr. Pepper.

Tig made a noise in agreement, "Well, Trixie girl, I doubt that any of the CaraCara girls will hop in the ring with you, but you can always pick a catfight. You're real good at that," Clay said, flicking the ash of his cigar onto the concrete.