Smoke'n'Booze

IX

Chibs POV

We drove back to Redwoody. The whole ride Erin snuggled with my back and held on tight. We didn't make anything official yet, but everyone keeps referring to her as my old lady. I guess it is time, to take the next step.

When we got to the studio, Erin got up and we both walked inside hand in hand.
Erin kissed my cheek and let go of my hand. She went to Layla, passing Luke on the way and kissing his head. I leaned on the wall and watched her interacting with the persons who were in my life.
Venus saw me and came to me. "She is a nice and decent woman, darlin." I nodded at her. "But I kind of was shocked when I first met her... she has a similarity to our Gemma..." "Aye... I know." "I have to say, Gemma was a fine woman, she had her tolls, but she was always nice to me. I know what she did, but all you loved her. Erin though is like the nicer version of Gemma. Family means everything to her and she loves deeply.", Venus said quietly. "She is good for you, darlin. And she is good for us." I watched Erin laughing with Layla, Quinn and Happy and I knew what Venus was saying is true. "Aye." I kissed Venus cheek and went over to Erin. "Gimme a sec, love?" "Sure. What's up?" She smiled brightly at me and I took her arm and guided her to our office. I closed the door behind us and breathed in to calm me down. "What's going on Filip? Did I do something wrong?" I turned to her and just shook my head. "No. Ya didna. I ha ta ask ya sumthin." "Ok?" "Ya know we didna label us or sumthin, but..." "Filip, we don't have to. I like it, I like us." "Aye, me too. But I wanna label us. I want ta have ya all for maself... Erin I am falling for ya. I-I want ta make this right... would ya be ma ole lady, love?" Erin looked at me, her eyes shining brightly. "I would love to, so... yes." I returned the smile and pulled her to me, whirling her around with my arms. She giggled happily. I let her stand on her own feet and kissed her. "Yar mine." "I'm yours, yes."

A soft knock on the door let us look up. Layla peeked in. "Sorry to interrupt, but dinner is ready and Erin I've got something for you." Erin looked at me surprised. "Something for me?" We went outside to the common area and Layla handed her a duffle bag. "I went through the storage room while you've been gone. I got you some clothes. They belonged to special people, we were dearly loved by the club. I couldn't get rid of them and I they wanted you to have them. Happy and Tig told me there was a fire in your apartment and that you have nothing left... so...yeah." Erin teared up and hugged Layla. "Why are you all so nice to me? You guys barely know me!" Venus stepped in. "We all have been there baby, so don't say anything. Family is here to have your back."

The dinner was fun. We all sat around, the tables were put together and Rosie served a veggie lasagna and a meat lasagna. It was just like in old times and it felt more than good.
After all of us stuffed our faces and everything was cleaned up again, Erin sat in my lap. I couldn't resist and I played with her hair. Quinn and Luke already packed up and were on their way to the cabin.
Erin sighed. "What's the matter, love?" I asked her quietly. "This is nice. You, the people here, everything. But.... where should I go... I don't have a place to stay... at least not until I have the chance to rebuild my home." "Yar stayin with ma." "And where's that?" "Well I used to have a rental in Charming, but me and ma brothers decided on using the loft above here. I ha two rooms for myself. It's not much, but I'd like ta share with ya." "You would do that?" "Listen, love. Yar ma ole lady now. What's mine is yars too. Easy as tha." She looked at me. "Is there anything else I need to know about the term old lady? It seems to be some kind of importance in your circle..." Happy who sat next to us smirked. "Yeah, it does. It means you're getting his crow.", he said with his dark voice. "And what does that mean?" Erin seemed to be anxious. "Don't worry. It's nothing bad. All girls or better said women who are ole ladies get a tattoo. A crow. For Samcro. Another label for ya, tha everyone else knows yar with us.", I tried to explain. "It's just a tattoo. Everyone else knows your property of Samcro then, nobody's allowed to touch you.", Happy chimed in. "I don't like the thinking that I am someone's property, but I get what you talk about.", she stated. Layla saw her look on the face. "Look Erin. I am wearing my crow, too." She pulled up her shirt a little, showing her ribs with the crow tattoo and Opies name. "It is a honor to wear one honestly. Because even when you're husband is dead, like mine, I am safe, the club's still my family." Layla smiled. "Ok, uhm... I don't know... I don't have any tattoos..." Chibs stroked my back. "Love, this isn't necessary... yar mine and I'm yars, tha's all we need..." "No Filip. If I am your old lady, I want to do it the right way. I always wanted a tattoo anyway, I just was to chicken about it..." Happy grinned at me. "Well hello then, new customer." "You are the tattoo artist of the club? Really?" Erin glanced to me. "Aye he is. He is really a good one." "Can I think about the motive a few days?" "Sure, but I already have something in mind for you, lady. I draw it and I'll show it to you let's say the day after tomorrow. If you like it, we can start right away. " "Alrighty. I'm in." Tig came over, he obviously overheard our conversation. "Shit, talking about getting the crow already? Dang, Chibs, you make her my sister that fast..." I laughed at him. "You said for yourself I am just like the little sister you never wanted." "Yeah, but now... you fit in quite good." "We'll see about that Tigger."

Later that evening, Erin and I were upstairs in my room, enjoying the silence of the both of us, my kutte and my leather jacket hanging on the door rack. When we first came upstairs she took in my two connected rooms. Both of them were furnished only with necessary items. A bed, two dressers, a night table in one room and in the other a small couch, a coffee table, a cupboard and a TV rack. I don't own much, but over my couch on the wall there were two flags hanging on the wall - an Irish and a Scottish flag, above my bed there was the reaper of Samcro painted on the wall by Happy.
In my living room only two pictures could be seen. One of me with my daughter Kerrianne and the other was  a picture of me with Opie, Bobby and Jax, showing us in merrier and happier times at the former clubhouse sitting outside on the picnic table. Erin looked at the pictures and just mentioned the one with my daughter. "She's pretty." I smiled at her and seated myself on the couch, where I stayed until now.
Erin went through the duffle bag. "Whose clothes were these?", she asked suddenly and held up a black shirt with net. "I guess that must have been Gemmas." "Who is Gemma?" "She was Jackie-boy's mother, the matriarch of the club. He is the blonde guy in the picture." She looked at the picture of me and the boys. "Who are the others?" I got up and went over to her, hugging her from behind. "The tall lad was Opie. And the other one was Bobby." "That was Laylas husband? Boy he was tall... I swore to never intrude anything private, but why are all of these men dead? You keep saying was and were when they are mentioned." She looked at me with concern in her eyes. "Bad times, love. We had some really bad times, before the club became what it is now. Opie was killed in jail by some gang members. Bobby was killed by the same gang members after they tortured him. Jackie-boy..." I sighed. Even after all this time, it was hard for me to talk about that. "...he killed himself after he put the club into the right and legal direction, the club is in right now. He... no, all of them, were good guys, ma best friends." Erin turned around in my arms. "A lot of deaths. I don't need to know any details, babe. You don't have to tell me." "Maybe not now..." "I'll wait till you are ready. Just one question. Would they approve of me?" "They would love ya, I guarantee ya tha. Especially Jackie-boy. He was just like my own son. I loved him." "I am sorry, Filip." She kissed me. "Come on, let's get ta bed. It's almost eleven p.m." Erin smiled. "And there is the old man talking..." I smiled at her and lifted her off her feet. "The old man still has the strength of a bull and ya know tha..." Erin bit her lip and pulled her arms around my neck. "Then show me, my bull."