Family over everything

Chapter 23

"We need to get next door to the kids, babe," she said.

"I know," he replied.

The two of them got up and got dressed. Allison went to fix her hair and they headed back next door to Happy's house. Gemma smirked at them as they walked in. Happy went to take Maia from Jax. Allison picked up Mason from the toys on Happy's living room floor. Everyone slowly filtered out leaving the family alone in the house. Allison had to get the kids in bed for school the next morning.

"Night guys, be good for your mama tonight," he said as they left.

Emersyn threw an absolute fit that Maia got to stay with Happy but she had to go home with her mother. He sighed.

"You can leave her here if you want Al," he said.

"No she is going to learn that she doesn't get her way by throwing a fit all the time," she replied.

He nodded, not going to fight with her on it when things were finally going the way he wanted them. She kissed his lips gently and walked toward the house. Ryder was already in the shower when she walked in the door.

"Emersyn Noelle Lowman, stop that screaming right now or you will go to bed right now instead of getting a story," Allison told her daughter.

"I want daddy," Emersyn whined.

"You will see him tomorrow."

"No."

Allison finally just put her to bed and closed her bedroom door. She wasn't going to listen to it anymore. She got the boys bathed and in bed before settling in her own room to watch television. She wondered how he was doing next door with Maia. The first few nights with Mason had been really rough.

She couldn't even say she was surprised to hear a knock on the door at 3am. She could hear the baby screaming as she got closer to the door. She opened it. Happy looked exhausted.

"She won't stop, Al. What do I do?" he asked.

She ushered him in the house. He had a bottle and a pacifier. She took a deep breath before taking the baby from his arms. She snuggled her in closer and tried the bottle first. It was cold.

"It isn't warm enough," she told him.

She warmed the bottle and tried again which calmed Maia right away. Allison handed her back to Happy. He stared at her.

"She should eat and go to sleep now with all that screaming she was doing," she said.

"Thank you," he replied.

Allison nodded. She yawned. He started out the door to go back to his place. Allison locked the door behind him.

That was pretty much how the first week at home with Maia went. Happy would pop up at 3am with a screaming infant and no idea what to do. The final night of the first week, the only thing that calmed her was the swing. Happy and Allison had both passed out on the couch together which is how Gemma found them.

She had come to watch Maia while Happy went on a club run. Happy had Allison held tightly in his arms while they slept. She was laying on his chest and Maia was asleep in the swing. She gently woke Happy. He glared at her for a moment before realizing who she was.

"What's up?" he whispered.

"You have that run today," Gemma told him.

He nodded. He gently moved Allison to the bedroom and then got Maia ready to go for Gemma.

"Things getting better?" Gemma asked.

"She won't sleep for me. She will only sleep for Allison," he said.

Gemma nodded. She would have Maia overnight that night. She wasn't sure how it would go but she was prepared for it. Happy made sure she had everything she needed and then they headed out. He would call Allison later to check in with her. He hadn't meant to fall asleep at her place. They had gotten to talking after Maia had finally crashed and had fallen asleep.

They were headed to deal with a cook house of Darby's just inside Charming limits. They knew the rules so he was going to have to deal with it.

"You ready to be away from her for the night," Gemma asked.

Happy shrugged. He was more worried about Maia not having Allison at night like she had lately. He wondered how that was going to go over.

He called Allison after they got back into Charming from just a random run to check on businesses.

"Hey," he said.

"Hey," she replied.

"I'm not gonna be home tonight."

"Who has Maia?"

"Gemma does. I didn't want to make you think I just assumed you would be there for her."

"All right. Let her know if she needs anything, all she has to do is call."

"I will, babe."

Allison couldn't deny that she was becoming attached to this little girl. It was hard not to. She was the innocent party in the whole situation. Happy was convinced but wouldn't say it out loud, that Maia would end up calling Allison, mom. He couldn't say he disliked the idea of it either.

He headed out that night for the cook house. Maia was with Gemma and he was off dealing with this crap. He was almost to the house when his phone went off. He opened it and answered, hearing Maia screaming in his ear.

"She won't stop," Gemma said.

"Al said if you needed anything to call her," he told her.

"All right."

Gemma hung up with him and dialed Allison's number. The younger woman answered it.

"What's up Gem?" she asked.

Maia was clearly screaming. Allison sighed heavily.

"Just bring her home to me, I will take care of it," she said.

"Are you sure? I just thought you could give me some tricks to dealing with it?" Gemma said.

"She won't stop. She hasn't stopped screaming for Hap at all until she is here. It's been this way since he brought her home."

"Allison, I don't want to make things harder on you."

"It's fine really. She is growing on me."

Gemma drove the screaming baby over to Allison's house. She smiled as she opened the door. She pulled the baby from the seat and cuddled her as she began to calm down. Gemma watched in amazement.

"You were meant to be her mother, sweetheart," Gemma said.

Allison shrugged. She got Maia to go to sleep quickly and then lay her down.