~𝙼𝙾𝙳𝙴𝚁𝙽 𝙳𝙰𝚈 𝙱𝙾𝙽𝙽𝙸𝙴 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝙲𝙻𝚈𝙳𝙴~

𝕔𝕙𝕒𝕡𝕥𝕖𝕣 𝕗𝕠𝕣𝕥𝕪-𝕗𝕚𝕧𝕖

The clubhouse looked like Christmas had detonated inside it. Twinkling lights hung from every available surface, garlands wrapped around the railings, and a massive tree stood proudly in the corner, adorned with sparkling ornaments and a star so big it looked like it could double as a weapon in the right hands. Bellatrix had gone all out, hiring professionals to ensure every inch of both the clubhouse and her home radiated Christmas magic.

The guys? They hated it.

"This is suffocating," Chibs grumbled as he walked in, a Santa hat already forced onto his head by an overly enthusiastic Bellatrix. "Feels like the North Pole took a dump in here."

"Yeah, I ain't feelin' too jolly," Happy added, eyeing the fake snowflakes hanging from the ceiling with pure disdain.

Tig, despite his general disdain for festive overload, wasn't about to argue with his wife. He knew why she was doing this. Christmas without Clay was going to be a tough one, especially for Stetson and Shelbee, who had practically grown up with their Pawpaw Santa always around to make the season extra special. Bellatrix wasn't just throwing Christmas at them—she was trying to make it magical for the kids, to give them something bright despite the hole left behind.

Jax walked in, took one look at the setup, and immediately groaned. "Jesus Christ, Bell, what the hell did you do?"

"Made it festive," Bellatrix answered, arms crossed as she took in her masterpiece. "And if any of you ungrateful bastards so much as touch one ornament, I will have your balls as tree toppers."

Tig, who had been nursing his coffee, nearly choked on it. "Definitely more terrifying than Santa."

Bellatrix smirked. "Damn right."

She stood on her tiptoes, carefully hanging the stockings along the bar, adjusting each one so they were in perfect order from oldest to youngest.

Kenny, Ellie, Piper, Abel, Thomas, Stetson, Shelbee, Alex.

At the very end, she hung a small blue stocking with an embroidered angel on it. Harlan. Her angel baby. Her heart clenched for a moment, but she steadied herself. This was for the kids. This was to make the holidays special for them, to give them something warm to hold onto despite the losses they'd all suffered.

She turned to face the guys, placing her hands on her hips. "I'm doin' all this for the kids, y'all know that, right?"

Jax sighed, rubbing a hand over his face. "Yeah, Bell, we know."

Chibs crossed his arms, eyeing the stockings. "Still doesn't mean we have to like it."

Happy just grunted. "It's excessive."

"Y'all are heartless," Lyla chimed in, walking in with Wendy, both carrying bags of Christmas gifts. "Bell, it looks amazing. The kids are gonna love it."

Tig wrapped his arms around Bellatrix from behind, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I love it, doll."

"You better," she muttered, leaning into him.

The clubhouse might've looked like Christmas had thrown up everywhere, but Bellatrix didn't care about the guys' grumbling. When the kids arrived, their eyes would light up, and that was all that mattered.

The guys continued to grumble, but Bellatrix ignored them, stepping back to admire her work. Twinkling lights wrapped around every beam, garlands laced with red bows stretched across the bar, and a massive tree stood proudly in the corner, decked out with ornaments, tinsel, and a bright silver star on top. There was no escaping the Christmas spirit in this damn clubhouse.