Disclaimer: I don't own Sons Of Anarchy or any of its characters, they are the product of Kurt Sutter's mind and belongs to him and FX.

I'm a huge believer of ending things, nothing is good forever and if my readers tells me that they hate that the story ends, I consider it a success, they liked it and I managed to keep their interest to the end. Also, if I keep writing I'll get fed up with the characters and the story would get boring. This story was always meant to only follow the second and third season and to me it feels done.

You could of course argue that I'm continuing this story since I'm writing a sequel about Grace, but that story isn't about Happy and Ava. They're in it, obviously, but it's not about them. And I like Grace, she deserves a story of her own.

As always, thank you for favs, alerts and reviews, ff has some of the most loyal, amazing and lovely readers. More thanks you's at the end.

Chapter 27: One letter a week

Happy walked outside of the clubhouse, that familiar, slightly excited, feeling was spreading through him. He liked this, when they were getting ready to execute a plan they've been working towards for a long time.

Tara was already there, next to Opie.

"Is Awa at Jax's place?" He asked her.

"No, she's at the station with Lowen. They're picking up Gemma."

"And Grace?"

"She's with her."

That he didn't like. If she was picking up Gemma with Lowen she'd come to the club later and that meant Grace would come with her. He didn't want Grace there.

"Something wrong?" Opie asked and Happy shook his head. He'd figure that out later. He needed to put that aside right now and focus.

"Grace said you did a tattoo of her." Tara said with a smile.

"Yeah." That was all he said before he walked inside again. "Tara's here." He said to Jax who left and Chibs handed him a vest. Putting on the vest was the sign for him that they were 'go'. He let go of everything but the task at hand.

Outside they watched Jax talk to Tara and then Clay talking to Unser. They hugged and then he finally went inside the van. His pulse wasn't high but he was extremely ready to finnish this. He couldn't wait for it all to be over. To tie up all the loose ends before going inside.

-o0o-

Ava was sitting at the station with Grace in her lap.

"Was she the one who helped you?" Grace asked and looked at Ally who was going through papers with one of the officers.

"Yes."

"I don't think she likes kids." Grace glaring eyes didn't left Ally. "She doesn't smile with her eyes."

"She was a great help so please be nice to her, you don't have to like her."

"I don't."

"I gathered." Grace could be very difficult and she didn't believe in pretending in front of people. "You only have to be polite." Ava tried.

"Ok." Grace said and finally smiled when she saw Gemma. She jumped down and went up to Gemma and took her hand.

"We need to make a quick stop at my house then we can wait for the others at the clubhouse." Gemma said and Ava nodded. She didn't mind.

-o0o-

Happy got off Tig's bike.

"So, you're officially a bitch." Tig said with a huge smile.

"Shut the fuck up." Happy said and started to peel of the vest. He wasn't really pissed, so far everything had gone according to the plan and if him riding bitch had helped he was ok with that. He wasn't sure he'd be ok with the comments Tig's would give him for the coming years.

Tig leaned agains his drag bars. "If you show me the ink I'll never mention it again."

"Ink?"

"Of Grace." Happy shrugged and turned around. He had removed the plastic and washed it earlier. Tig took a look. "Freddie?"

"Yeah." He turned around and noticed Tig's smile. "Not a word."

"Didn't say anything. Looks good." Tig was still smiling. "Bet Grace liked it."

"Yes."

Tig pointed towards the gate. "Speak of the rascal."

Ava's Ghia drove up and Grace came running half a minute later.

"Happy!" He picked her up and she climbed higher and tried to look at the back of his neck. "Did you see it Tig? He did a tattoo of my face."

"I saw it."

"I'm doing a muerte scull when I'm eighteen."

"Where?" Tig asked and Grace was stunned for a few seconds. Apparently she hadn't thought of that.

"Here." She said when she had decided and pointed at the inside of her left lower arm. "That's where I'll make it."

"Good spot." Tig agreed. "Can show it off or hide it, whichever you like."

Grace looked very pleased and Happy gave her a kiss.

Ava saw Lowen's car coming inside behind her and said hi to Clay as he passed her. Grace was already in Happy's arm. Tig gave Grace a kiss before going over to one of the garage doors.

When she reached Happy he gave hugged her with his free arm.

"It's Jax!" Grace said with a smile.

Behind Jax was more cars.

"Who's that?" Ava asked Happy. His jaws were tense. "Tell me!"

"ATF." He handed Grace over. "Take her inside."

"What?" She held Grace and noticed that she was concerned as well. "What's going on?"

"I don't know, babe. But whatever this is about I don't want her around." He nodded towards Grace. He noticed the look on Grace's face and gave her another kiss. "I love you, Sugar."

Grace only nodded before putting her arms around Ava's neck. Ava looked at Stahl as she passed them and noticed her face. Happy was right. Whatever this was about Grace shouldn't be here for it.

"I love you." She said to him before taking Grace inside the clubhouse.

"Mom, what's happening?"

"I honestly don't know Grace."

"Why couldn't I stay outside?"

"Some things are better if you don't see." She hugged Grace and they sat quiet for a while.

"Promise me I can go visit him."

"I promise." Ava said into her hair. Apparently they were both thinking the same thing. That he was going to jail now. "We'll write him letters and do drawings as well."

"One letter a week." Grace said.

"Ok." Tara came inside with Gemma behind her, they had both been crying. "What happened?"

Just behind them was Ally. She held a blue file in her hands. "Fourteen months and Gemma got six months of house arrest." She said to Ava.

Ava looked between Tara and Gemma. That was good news. Fourteen months was a lot less than she had feared. Then she realized something else. How the hell did Ally know that? Wasn't there supposed to be a trial? Gemma took a deep breath when she looked at her. She knew that Ava had puzzled the pieced together.

"Jax made a deal with Stahl."

Shit, shit, shit. That was the only thing going through Ava's head. Jax had done something stupid.

"Ava, why don't you come home with me?" Tara said. "Lyla is waiting with Neeta and Abel at Gemma's place."

"Ok." She got up and when she passed Gemma she hugged her hard. "I'll stop by tomorrow."

"I'll be there." She said in an almost sarcastic tone.

She was in the nursery next to Tara and Grace was in the living room watching TV. Grace knew that something was wrong and Ava fully expected that thousand questions would be asked during the evening. The only problem was how to answer them.

Tara wasn't crying anymore but she was far from ok. There was a knock on the door and Ava got up to answer it. It was Filthy Phil.

"Is Tara here?"

Ava stepped to the side and showed him in.

"Phil!" Grace yelled and gave him a hug.

"Hi, Grace. I need to get to Tara."

"Ok." Grace said and let go of him. Phil continued inside and Ava pointed him to the nursery.

He came out just a few seconds later. Grace looked at him. "Can you watch TV with me for a while?"

"Sorry. I have to get back to the clubhouse." He gave her a hug. "Some other time."

"Ava." Tara yelled from the nursery. "Can you come here?"

Ava went inside and Tara shoved a letter in her hands the minute she stepped through the door. "What is this?"

"Read it."

Ava did. It was a letter from Jax explaining what had happened. That him ratting the club out was fake, they all knew what he was doing and they did it because they needed ATF on their side. It also said that Stahl was dead.

Ava looked at Tara. "Think anyone will actually miss her?"

Tara was stunned for a few seconds and then she started to laugh. "You really hate her guts."

"Hated, past tense." Ava said and then she started to laugh as well. "I know that's not the important stuff here but..." She couldn't continue, she couldn't stop laughing. None of them could.

All the tension had disappeared at and this time she laughed instead of threw up. So that was good. She was trying very hard to not sing 'ding dong the witch is dead'. Even if that made her feel like a terrible person the though of that song made her laugh even harder.

"To sum it up;" Tara said while drying her eyes. "Stahl is dead, they got fourteen months in jail and Gemma got house arrest. I'd say that's a pretty good result."

Ava stayed for a while and then took Grace home and as she suspected the questions started in the car.

"What happened? Why was Gemma and Tara upset?"

"They thought Jax had done something stupid and that he was in trouble. It turned out that he hadn't."

"But Happy is in jail."

"Yes."

"How long will he be there?"

"Fourteen months. One year and two months." Ava said and she noticed how Grace's shoulders fell a little. "I know that it seems like a really long time." Grace nodded. "We'll make sure time passes quickly, we'll write to him every week and visit as often as possible."

"Can I touch him when we visit?"

"I don't know." Ava thought about it for a while. "I really hope so."

They came home and had dinner still talking and finally Grace ran off to start writing the first letter. She had decided that she was going to write a little everyday so that Happy knew what she was doing.

After Grace had gone to bed Ava cleaned up the apartment. When she came into the bedroom she noticed Happy's t-shirt on the floor and picked it up to throw it in the laundry. As she threw it on top of the pile she had in her arms she felt the smell. It smelled of Happy so he took it and pressed it against her face.

That was it. She dropped the other clothes on the floor and sat down on the edge of the bed and just drew in his smell for a long time. She missed him already and all of a sudden fourteen months didn't seem like such a short time. It felt like forever.

-o0o-

Two weeks:

Happy walked inside the visiting room and saw Ava in his favorite gray dress and Grace in a blue dress. He walked up to them and gave Grace a hug and kissed Ava. He missed her like hell and the kiss made him miss her even more.

"Did you get my letters?" Grace asked as he sat down with her still in his lap.

"Sure did." The letters were great, like a journal of everything she had done. "Is Pete ok?"

"Pete-rrrr." She corrected him. "He's fine, got a blue cast, looks quite cool." Peter fell of his bike and broke a bone in his hand. Grace had wrote about the hospital visit in detail and especially the x-ray.

"Bobby asked me to tell you that he misses you."

"I miss him and his muffins." Grace mumbled and put her arms around his neck. She whispered in his ear. "Mom sleeps in your t-shirt."

Happy looked up and noticed Ava's smile. They talked for as long as possible before the guards came. He got up and kissed Ava. "Miss me?"

"Yes. All the time." She said.

He kissed her again. He wasn't allowed to stay and watch them leave but looked back and noticed both of them waving at him. This fucking sucked.

-o0o-

One month:

Ava was reading when she heard a knock at the door. It was Chibs.

"Just wanted to make sure you're ok." He said as he walked inside.

"I'm fine. Want some coffee?"

"Sure." He smiled. "How are things with Grace? We miss her."

"I'm sorry. I haven't had time to come by. There's a lot at work and she's usually at Mary's." Ava was feeling extremely guilty about it. "I've been to Gemma a couple of times." That wasn't a great defense but at least it proved that she hadn't forgotten about them.

"Why don't you let Gemma take her a couple of days a week? Or let her stay at the garage? Chuckie or the prospects can keep an eye on her."

"Not sure how I'd get her there." She sat down at the table while they waited for the coffee. She was extremely tired and she had considered asking to go down to part time again. It was hard to make it work and she couldn't keep using Mary like this.

"We'll help you, Ava." Chibs said and took her hand. "Family you know. Happy had a go at Piney on the phone this morning. Said you looked tired and we needed to fucking help you."

That made Ava laugh. "Sorry."

"Don't be. We miss her. Come by tomorrow and we'll figure something out." Chibs smiled. "With Jax being shanked and all other shit we need to keep you close. Happy was pissed as hell."

"Any help would be appreciated."

"Even if Hap's inside we're not going to forget about you. We all need to pull together until they come back."

He stayed for a while and then he left. Life all of sudden seemed a little bit easier. And it would stop Grace from nagging about wanting to go visit the guys at the clubhouse.

-o0o-

Six months:

Another wash date. This time both her and Tara was at Gemma's and Grace was playing with Abel. Tara was getting big and it wasn't that long until the baby was coming.

"Does it ever fell like you just paused you life, waiting for him?" Tara said.

"Not during the days but sometimes at night." Ava admitted. "That's strange. I mean; during our relationship he's actually spent more time inside than with me."

"It was a really intense period." Gemma pointed out."Enough action for years if you were a normal couples."

"No shit." Ava laughed. "Crazy. This is making me feel bored sometimes."

"I know what you mean." Tara agreed.

"I'm tborad with this stupid house." Gemma said.

"Not that long left though." Ava said. She heard a beep from the washing machine and got up to get her laundry.

This had become a routine every week. Laundry, gossip and nagging. She liked it and Happy teased her about it, asked if they knitted as well. On her visits and on the phone calls they both avoided to get sentimental. It only made it worse and instead they were just as usual, teasing each other.

Grace still wrote him a couple of lines every day and sent them to him once a week. He loved those letters. All of them did and once a week she got a letter back from Happy and from one of the others. They took turns.

Bobby usually sent her recipes, Clay short lessons about bikes, Jax things he wanted her to teach Abel, Juice sites she should check online and Tig sent her reasons why she should like him better than Kozik. Ava was amazed at how kind they were to Grace. It wasn't long letters, sometimes just a line but it was so sweet and meant so much to Grace.

When she came back to the living room Grace was in Gemma's lap.

"Who sent you the letter this week?" Gemma asked.

She of course knew about the letters. She wasn't pleased with Clay's choice of subject but that was Grace's favorite. Apart from the letters from Happy. They were a secret though, no-one else could read them. Ava's favorite, besides her own letters from Happy, was Bobby's. That man knew every secret about baking.

"Tig. He wrote that Kozik was blond and that blond people are more stupid." Grace looked at Gemma. "I don't think Jax is stupid."

"Sometimes he is." Gemma said and started to brush Grace's hair. "But that's because he's a man and has nothing to do with the hair color."

"Are men more stupid?" Grace asked.

"Of course." Gemma confirmed. "Women are the stronger and smarter sex. Never forget that, honey. A man is only as good as the woman he has. Happy made a good choice and so did Jax."

Grace nodded seriously. "And Clay."

"Thank you, Sweetie." She kissed Grace's cheek.

Ava shook her head and Tara laughed. Gemma always gave Grace little pearls of wisdom and sometimes she doubted that they were that wise. This on the other hand, she liked.

Grace looked up when she noticed her. "Is that true?"

"Of course." Ava sat down next to her.

"But you're not stronger than Happy."

"Gemma doesn't mean muscles, she means a strong mind."

"Oh." Grace said and seemed to ponder a bit. "Like how you were strong and kept me safe from dad?"

"Just like that." Gemma agreed.

"I understand." Grace said. "Strong and smart." She nodded.

Ava realized with women like Gemma and Tara around her Grace would have the best role models a girl could wish for. Well, Gemma might take it a bit too far sometimes but her high regard of family and taking care of the people around her was something Grace could learn from.

-o0o-

Six months and a week:

"Next." Clay said. They were all sitting outside and Happy was reading Grace's letter.

Happy started on the next one. It was his favorite. "We did the laundry at Gemma's today. She told me that Jax was stupid sometimes but not because he was blond. It was because he was a man and men are always more stupid than women. Mom said it was true."

"You're kidding?" Tig said and took the letter from him. "That's not what I meant."

"What the hell did you write?" Bobby asked.

"That Kozik was blond and blond people are more stupid."

"Thanks." Jax said. "As far as Grace is concerned I'm stupid because I'm a man and because I'm blond."

Happy laughed and shook his head. "Want to hear the next?"

"Yeah. Keep reading." Bobby said.

"Peter showed me a dead mouse he found under his porch today. We're going to leave it there to see what happens with it. It looks icky. Don't tell mom!"

"Maybe you should. Tell Ava I mean." Juice said. "She might catch something."

Happy shrugged. He was going mention it to Ava and she'd know what to do.

"Next." He said and continued to read. "Chuckie gave me ice cream at the garage today. Then Piney gave me one and then Kozik. Mom said I had a sugar rush when I came home and Gemma told them they were idiots and that they had to ask each other if I'd already had an ice cream. She said it was proof that men are stupid idiots."

"God damn. She'd going to be a radical, lesbian feminist by the time we get out." Bobby said. "We need to make sure that Piney and the others try to balance out the rants from the crazy queen. Next."

Happy looked down. It was the last one. "Mickey teased me today because I didn't understand the maps we looked at in school. Peter told him to shut his mouth because Mickey wasn't exactly Einstein (I didn't know what that meant, mom said that he was a smart guy, even smarter than Peter) then he hit him in the face. I gave Peter my Snickers at lunch."

"I like Peter." Juice said with a laugh. "Crazy kid but I like him."

There had been quite a few notes about Peter, how he defended her and protected her so Happy was quite fond of him as well. He was the only friend she ever mentioned and when he asked her about it she shrugged and said that Peter was the one she liked best.

"It's my turn to write to her this week." Jax said and the others nodded.

Happy folded the letter and put it in his pocket. He was surprised that she still wrote everyday and sent them to him. It was quite a commitment for a six year old. Ava said it was good, that it was good practice for her and he had noticed that her spelling was getting better. Her and Ava's letters was the highlight of every week. He sighed. Nine more fucking months.

-o0o-

Twelve months:

Tara was feeding Thomas in the nursery when Ava came and Gemma was in the kitchen playing with Abel.

Grace ran up to him. "Hi Abel. Jax want me to learn you the Sesame Street song." She said and sat down next to him. Then she started to sing.

Gemma gave her a kiss before getting up from the floor.

"Coffee?" She asked Ava.

"You know it."

"Two more months." Gemma said when she sat down.

"I know. Strange how it feels like its been forever and really short at the same time."

"How's the dress going?"

"Ok." Ava and Tara was going to be brides maids at the wedding. Lyla was totally freaking out and Ava got tired just from thinking about that wedding.

Tara walked inside. "Two more months." She said with a huge smile while handing Ava Thomas. The countdown had started for real and that somehow made it almost worse. When it was getting closer but still felt far away.

"Imagine doing this by yourself." Gemma said. "I mean, I've had you and the rest of them. But being alone."

"God!" Tara said. "How awful. Don't know what I'd done without you."

Ava was quiet. She had been alone for so long and suddenly she had a huge family around her. Even if she couldn't imagine being without Happy, they hadn't been together for long and that hadn't mattered to anyone. Each and every one in the club had been there for her. They had even been upset with her when she avoided asking for help.

"What's wrong?" Gemma asked.

"Nothing. I just realized that eighteen months ago it was just me and Grace." Back then, she was even nervous about contacting Clark, now he came and visited quite often and they had been to him as well. There was a competition going on between Gemma and the New York charter about who could design the coolest pink t-shirt.

"You should send Jack some flowers." Gemma smiled.

"I've thanked him a million times." Grace's birthday party had been at his cafe this year as well.

Grace came up from the floor and Ava noticed that Abel was almost singing the Sesame Street-song. "I'll practice more with him later." Grace said. She was taking the tasks from Jax very seriously.

That night after Ava had finished the bedtime story they talked for a while, like they always did.

"Two more months." Grace said. "It's not that long."

"No, it isn't."

Grace was quiet for a while. "I miss him." She hardly ever said that. It was like she was scared it would make it worse if she said it out loud, which was almost what Ava felt as well.

"Me too."

"He says he misses us."

"In his letters?" This was the first time she had ever mentioned the letters from Happy.

"Yes." Grace gave her a hug. "That he misses you all the time and he's got our pictures on the wall. That he misses going on rides with me. And he even misses you eating in bed. But I couldn't tell you that."

"I won't tell him that you did." She kissed Grace's forehead. "I love you, honey."

"I love you too, mom." She yawned. "Stay with me until I fall asleep."

"Ok." She laid down more comfortable and adjusted the pillow.

-o0o-

They were standing outside the clubhouse along with loads of other people. Ava was next to Gemma and Tara.

Finally she heard the bikes and Grace started to jump at the spot. "That's them, that's them, that's them!"

When she saw Happy, Ava choked up. Grace didn't and ran up to him. He picked her up and hugged her hard before coming over to Ava and kissed her. "Missed you." He said. It was the first time he had said it. He hadn't said it once during the past fourteen months.

"I love you." She answered and he smiled.

Tig came over and took Grace. "You are the best pen pal I've ever had kiddo. Fucking loved your letters!" He said and gave her a kiss.

"You did?" Grace had a huge smile.

"We all did." Bobby kissed her as well. "What happened to that mouse?"

"It kind of disappeared. It's just the skeleton left, totally clean." Grace said.

"And the hamster in the classroom?" Juice asked. "Did you find it?"

"Didn't I tell you?" Grace said while Tig handed her over to Bobby. Ava couldn't hear the rest since the carried her away.

Happy hugged her again and kissed her. "Have you been a good girl and practiced?"

"Yes." Ava smiled. "Don't want to practice anymore now."

"No need." He smiled and kissed her again.

-o0o-

Fifteen minutes later Happy took Ava and sneaked her with him to the dorm.

"Fucking hell I've missed your pussy." He said while pulling down her panties.

She laughed. "Grace is going to miss us."

"Babe, sorry to tell you but this is going to be really fucking quick. She won't even notice that we're gone." He said and put her down on the dresser. "I'll make it up to you."

"You better." She mumbled while kissing him and then she moaned when he pushed inside her.

He had almost forgotten how fucking good she felt. Almost. This would be a lot quicker than he had thought and he found her clit, hoping that she'd be as quick as him. Judging from her pants she would.

When he felt her cramps he was lost and he would never admit to anyone how quick that had been. He stayed inside her for a few moments after and kissed her neck.

"What happened to the hamster?" He asked and she looked confused.

"Hamster?"

"In Grace's classroom."

She laughed and kissed him. "They found him underneath a pile of books."

"Oh." Happy said stroke her cheek. "Guessing he was dead."

"Very." Ava said. "This dresser has the perfect hight."

"Yup." He said and finally pulled up his jeans and gave her the panties from the floor. "I never did take you for a ride."

"No. Tomorrow?"

He nodded. "Taking Grace tomorrow as well. Missed that like hell."

"She missed it too." Ava said and then she laughed. "She did take some rides with Piney and Chibs but said they weren't as much fun as you. And they didn't ask her any questions."

"Good." He turned around and then felt her holding the neckline of his t-shirt.

"I never got to see this properly." She was quiet for a while. "It's wonderful." She finally said.

"Come on. We need to get out there." He said and held her around her waist as they walked outside.

-o0o-

The next morning Happy was sitting next to Grace at 'their' bench.

"Are you staying with us now?" She asked and looked at him. He knew that look, she was making sure he was telling the truth.

"Absolutely." He said and she seemed satisfied.

"Are you going to marry my mom?"

"Don't know." He hadn't even thought about that. "Think I should?"

She shrugged. "I don't know." She looked at him. "Is it important to be married?"

He lit a cigarette. "To some."

"As long as you stay I guess it doesn't matter." She jumped down and went to throw away the paper. "Did you really like my letters?"

"We all did." He smiled. "I read them out loud to everyone." She sat down in his lap and he kissed her head and threw away the cigarette. He didn't want to smoke when she was in his lap. "Best moment of every week, Sugar."

"Peter said it was important that I told you different things but that it was all true."

Happy had to fucking ask. "Is Peter your boyfriend?"

Grace laughed. "No! He's a friend."

Happy was going to keep an eye on that. Peter seemed like a smart kid and they were close. Before he knew she would be a teenager and that's when guys would be a problem. She was just seven and it was already obvious that she would be fucking stunning when she grew up. He would rather die that have some pimpled teenager knock her up.

He was nervous about this, having a kid and Tig hadn't helped him as far as that was concerned. Totally freaked him out about what it was like to have teenage daughters.

"Wanna go home to mom?" He asked and she nodded. Then she got up on her knees in his lap and gave him a kiss.

"Can we do this tomorrow?"

"We can do this whenever you like, Sugar."

"When can I sit behind you?"

"When your legs are long enough to reach the footrest."

She nodded. "Can you paint on me today as well?"

"Sure." He said when they got up and walked towards the bike. "What do you want?"

It took her a while but when he put her helmet on she smiled. "A fish."

"A fish?"

"Could you buy me a fish as well? A real, live one."

"Ok."

"Now?"

"Think we need a cage for that. It's hard to take a fish and a fishbowl on a bike." He got up on the bike. "You need to take care of it."

"I took really good care of the classroom hamster." She said with a proud voice.

"Then how did it end up underneath the books?"

"I kind of forgot to close the cage. But he did real well until then."

Happy laughed. "I love you, Sugar."

"What?." She said when he lifted her up.

"I love you."

"Oh. I love you too."

He decided to get a car to buy her that stupid fish. At least she couldn't forget to close the fucking cage door on a fish.

THE END

A/N:

I have some of the most wonderful and loyal readers. Each and every review has made me so happy and your amazing feedback has meant the world to me.

A huge thank you for every alert and fav as well. You rock!

A super special, huge, massive thank you to the following extremely loyal reviewers. I bloody love you! (In not particular order)

wishuy, razzajazz, AngelsofHeavenandHell, AngieInWonderland, ILoveAnime89, Venetiangrl92, HermioneandMarcus, Krissy7, dark-lelu, otte1978, debbieja, go4itgirl, LuvDavidLaBrava, wrestlenascargirl

The Grace story, called "Crooked Rain" (thought I'd continue on the Pavement albums) will be up really really soon. The first chapter is already finished for publish.