Seb

Taking ari and charlie home with me just feels right. When the gates to the compound open we pass the club house, where a memeber and whores are standing, including a scowling daisy whom I pay no mind to.

"A porch swing?" Ari asks as we're pulling up to my house.

"You always said you wanted a porch swing" I shrug

"When did you do that?"

"A few years ago, I wanted to have everything you wanted here for when you came home."

"Before you have up?"

"I'm sorry angel" I sigh.

"Sebby?" I hear from the backseat.

"Yeah princess?"

"You get me?"

"Ofcourse." I smile.

When we enter the house I set charlie down to explore. "You have baby gates" it wasn't a question ari can clearly see them blocking the stairs and kitchen.

"Yeah, can't have the princess getting hurt." I tell her following charlie into the livingroom. "There's outlet covers, table corner covers, there's child lock things on the door too."

"Wow" I hear her say behind me.

"I want you to feel comfortable here with her. I don't want you having to chase her around worrying what she's going to get into or if she's going to get hurt."

"Thats really sweet seb, but why? You didn't know we were coming here today."

"I was hoping that I'd be able to convince you eventually. Looks like eventually is today." I smile at her then turn to charlie. "Hey princess. Come on I want to show you something."

"Otay sebby" she says rushing over to me taking my hand. When we make it to the stair I pull open the door of the gate and we walk upstairs with ari right behind us.

I look over my shoulder once we reach the top "Don't be mad angel"

"Why..." She trails off when I open the door right next to my room. Its painted pink there's what the guy at the store said is a 'princess palace bed" on the bottom is a bed it has stairs on the side that lead up to her 'castle' and there's a slide on the other side. There's a book shelf full of kids books next to her bed, and enough toys to keep her occupied for hours. "Seb why?" I look over at ari to see tears start to pool in her eyes.

"Because angel, you are my entire world. You are what makes my whole life worth living and not just merely existing. Charlie is your little girl, she is apart of you and I love every single part of you including her. I want you here I want you both here with me. I want to protect you both from all the bad things in this world. I know you're not ready for that but I'm hoping that you'll be willing to come hangout sometimes. Charlie deseves her own space with toys and a quiet place for her nap time."

"Thank you sebby" charlie screams wrapping her little arms around one of my legs.

"you're very welcome princess" I tell her as she runs towards her castle.

"Seb, this is all too much" ari tells me while swiping the tears from her cheeks.

"It's not nearly enough. I don't think you understand the depth my love runs for you ari, I really don't. You have no idea how badly I wish that little girl was mine. You have no idea how hard I'm going to fight for the both of you to stay. You really don't understand how hard I'm going to fight to be the dad that charlie deserves, and the man you deserve. Blood means shit to me you know how I grew up. I don't care that charlie doesn't gave my DNA I want her to be mine ari, I want to give her everything in the world she so much as looks at. I know right now I don't deseve either of you, but I hope one day I will because I'm not giving up ever."

"I dont know if I'm strong enough to stay in this town seb."

"Angel you are the strongest woman I know, but when you feel like it's all to much lean on me. I'm here ill always be here let me bare the weight of it all. You are not alone anymore. It's not just you and charlie again everyone. You have a family here. You have me here, and I swear anyone who so much as looks at my girls wrong will suffer the consequences." I tell her and place a lingering kiss in her forhead, inhaling the scent of vanilla and coconut.

Our conversation is interrupted by a very energetic charlie. "Sebby?"

"What's up sweetheart?"

"I love you" she smiles brightly at me.

"I love you too" I tell her honestly

"Love mommy too?" She asks

"I have loved mommy for a very long time" I have never for one moment stopped loving ari, and I never will.

"Good" she says going to play with some toys. I'm greatful now I decided to put a love seat in her room. Somewhere to sit with ari and spend time with both of my girls, while the princess plays.

"You know we're leaving right?" Ari tells me as charlie is tearing apart her room one toy at a time.

"I'm hoping you won't, but if you do just know I'll be wherever my girls are."

"The club is your family your life, seb"

"I'll go nomad, I'll still be apart of the club. Make no mistake I love all of my brothers, but you and charlie are my life. Nothing matters in this world but you and your daughter. Whether you decide to give me another chance or not, I'll always be wherever you are, I'll always be there to protect my girls."

"Seb, you deserve better than that." She sighs "you deserve to find happiness and love."

"I have, I found you." I tell her and kiss her temple "there has never been a happier time in my life. Watching you being a mom, watching your little mini me smile, that's my heaven. This is what I want I just need you to want it too."

"I don't know if I can sebby. I don't know how I'm supposed to move on from everything that has happened. I don't know how to stop looking over my shoulder. How to stop laying awake at night listening for someone to try to take us. I'm scared sebby."

"Look at me angel" when she turns to face me I continue, " never again will I let someone take you from me. You are protected and safe, so is charlie. I want you both here, but if you don't want to be here, I will follow you to the ends of the earth."

"Why are you doing this to me sebby?"

"I fucked up ari, I should have never gave up on you, I won't be making that mistake again." It's a promise to her, one I will never break. "I love you ari"

"I love you too sebby" she sighs.

"Sebby, I'm hungry" charlie says bounding towards me with a stuffed penguin in her arms.

"Okay princess, let's go get you fed" I tell her standing and scooping her into my arms.

The call from prez comes after lunch while we're all sitting on the couch watching frozen.

"Prez" I answer

"Hey, lexia is here if you wanna bring ari down here, or I can come get them"

"Hold on a sec" I tell him before speaking to ari "Hey angel, she's here. Do you want me to take you down there?"

She looks at charlie "I don't want her seeing my daughter, but I need you there. Is locklynn, Parker, or eli around?"

Prez must hear her "locklynn is here. Want me to send her over there?"

"Yeah prez that's fine"

"Okay she'll be there in a minute"

A couple minutes later there's a knock on the door. Locklynn is standing on the other side when I open it. "Hey" she says with a sad smile.

"She's gonna be okay. Thanks for coming to sit with charlie."

"No problem" she says following me into the living room

"Aunt lock" charlie bounds towards her

"Hey pumpkin pie, is it okay if I hang out with you for a bit?"

"You wanna see my room?"

Locklynns eyebrows furrow a little as she looks up at me. With a small smile and shrug I ignore her questioning eyes.

"We'll be back soon." Ari tells her before moving her attention to charlie "Okay babygirl mommy and sebby are leaving. I'll be back real soon okay?"

"Otay mommy, I love you" she hugs he mom before moving to me "love you sebby"

"We love you too princess" I tell her hugging her back. I look up to see locklynn smiling at us "the fridge and cabinets are stocked, help yourself to whatever. "

"Yall go ahead masters is waiting"

It's weird hearing people call prez, luca, or masters everyone around here just calls him prez.

We drive aris car back up to the club, pulling up I notice almost everyone outside.

"You okay sis?" Eli asks her once I opened her door and she has gotten out.

"Yeah. I'll be fine. Just wanna know the truth" she gives him a sad smile that she has way too often for my liking.

"Come on angel let's go get you your truth." I say grabbing her hand and leading her towards the club house. Ignoring everyone curious glances and some of the whores scowling faces.

Walking through the door of the clubhouse it's empty excpect for prez, knight, ari, myself, Eli coming in behind us, and a woman who looks like she'd drop dead any day. She's skin and bones, the track marks on her arms clearly visible for the other side of the room, she looks like she hasn't showered or ate in months.

"Mom?" Ari whispers

"Aribella?" She asks panic clear in her eyes. And I know right then my angels heart is about to be broke by her mother.