Out of the Blue

Chapter 6

Tig sat at the clubhouse wondering what do with his time. "Tig, why you so early?" Gemma wondered as she walked through the door. "I'm always early," Tig joked. Gemma gave him an unpleased look. "Is everything alright?" Gemma asked, strolling up next to him. Tig shrugged, resting his chin on his hand. "Tell me baby, what's wrong?" Gemma repeated, placing her arm on his back. "I... I don't Gemma... it's just...." Suddenly the rest of the club and Courtney burst through the doors and from behind the counter. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GEMMA!" They all exclaim, completely startling her. "Happy birthday Gem," Tig teased, giving her a hug. "Thanks baby," she laughed, finally registering the fact Tig set her up. "Happy birthday mamma," Nero smiled as he walked up to his lady. "Did you organise this?" Gemma wondered. Nero looked over her head out at the street. He shrugged. "It was a joint effort- I had my three sidekicks," he explained, pointing at Courtney behind the counter and Thomas and Abel awaiting to run to her. Gemma gave Courtney an appreciative look. "Thank you baby," she said, moving over to hug Courtney. "It was nothing," Courtney replied. "HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDMA!" Abel and Thomas squealed. "Thank you little munchkins. Thank you. All of you. It....it means a lot," Gemma announced, subtly wiping the corner of her eye. "We love you Gemma!" Chibs called out sarcastically. She waved him off. Nero stood by her with his hand on her shoulder. "Can we eat cake now?" Abel blurted out. "Good idea!" Courtney replied. Everyone went off to get cake after giving Gemma a birthday hug.

"Killing anyone today?" Courtney asked Happy randomly. Happy never really got used to the question being asked so openly. He gave her a waiting glance. "I was going to ask you the same thing," he joked. "Well, if you guys didn't get yourselves into trouble, I wouldn't have to!" Courtney teased. Happy was speechless. She did make a valid point. "Ok shut up now. What are you doing today?" he wondered, changing the topic while he could. "Considering my dad and boyfriend are too busy sorting problems out to spend time with their daughter or girlfriend, I am going shopping with Lyla," Courtney answered rather cheerily. Happy stared at her with a raised brow. "You? Shopping? Are you feeling ok?" he queried, touching her forehead to feel her temperature. Courtney bobbed her head away from his hand laughing. "It's for Diosa! I'm helping pick out new furniture," Courtney explained. "Oh...right. So no clothes?" "No. No clothes dad. People have to get me into a Hannibal Lecter costume to take me anywhere a Victoria's Secret store," she mentioned. "Please too far. Way too far. I'm talking clothing stores." "Oh sorry. I just heard you enjoy going to certain places and were a bit of um, ahhh... you don't have a very good reputation with women," Courtney finally concluded. Happy's jaw dropped. Courtney smiled at his reaction. "Wha? Who? Where did you get that from?" he defended. "I have my sources," she beamed. "Well then... quite obviously I don't when I have you as a daughter," he claimed. "You still have a bad rep." "I know. I haven't.... actually.... you don't want to know. Let's go out for dinner tonight," Happy stated, yet again changing the topic. "Sure!" Courtney agreed as they walked out the door.

Lyla and Courtney strolled through the mall. "How are you and Juice going?" Lyla asked as they were looking at couches. "Yeah! Really good actually!" Courtney replied. "You two are actually such an adorable couple," she teased. Courtney rolled her eyes. "So what's the actual colour scheme going to be?" Courtney questioned, quickly changing the topic. Lyla noticed and chuckled. "Well, I was thinking of going more classic sophisticated colours- to really freshen the main entrance up a bit. Right now, it's getting a bit dark and boring. I believe the proper term for the look is 'Parisian," Lyla explained, slightly mocking the Parisian aspect. "Je'taime Paris," Courtney joked, speaking the only French tongue she had. "You can speak French too?" Lyla asked sarcastically. "I can speak heaps of French! I just need to stub my toe and it just rolls off my tongue," Courtney clarified. Lyla took a second to twig on to what she meant. "Ohhhh," Lyla laughed, not believing her own momentary lapse of understanding. "Anyway," Courtney clapped. "Couches- which one looks Parisian?" Lyla wondered. They walked through the rows of couches. "How about this one?" Lyla queried, sitting down on a white leather couch. Courtney joined her. They both sat awkwardly. "Are we looking for comfort or looks?" Courtney quickly asked. They both glanced at each. "Both!" They agreed, standing up at the same time. "I think we just saved Tig a whole heap from getting his back fixed," Lyla joked. "Yep!"