^^ Sammy ^^

"Yes! Yes! That's it!" I couldn't contain my excitement. "Now bring your feet up!"

"I'll fall!" Jay says, shaking his head.

"No, you won't. Don't be a pussy." I know he won't be able to resist now.

Things had been a bit frosty between us since the whole promise incident, so I'm trying to thaw him out a bit. He'd been impressed by my stunting, so I'm trying to teach him a thing or two, but for a president of an MC, he worries about falling off way too much. He finally stops fussing and pulls his feet up, before letting go of the handlebars and balancing on the seat like a surfer. I jump up and down clapping, and even the guys are cheering behind me. They'd been out with us every afternoon, watching me and Jay practice. We're interrupted by a blast of sirens and the flashing lights of the sheriff's car as he pulls into the car park. My shoulders tense as I see Philly go to greet him. They talk for a minute before I hear the sheriff say he's here to see me, so I take a deep breath and join them.

"Hop in," The sheriff tells me, opening the passenger door of his car. "I just want a chat."

I wave off the guys' protests and get in the car, turning to look at the sheriff as he joins me.

"I've been speaking to the warden of Chelmsford prison. I haven't gone into details, I just said I was working on a case that may involve your ex." I go to argue but he carries on. "He gave me an update on his situation. Apparently, he was involved in a fight a few days ago. He swears that he was defending himself, but several witnesses have stated that he started the altercation. He'll be serving his full sentence. No good behaviour allowances."

"Why would he do that when he's so close to getting out?" I ask.

"I don't know. But that's not all. After the fight, his cell was searched, which is normal procedure. They found a large amount of heroin in a cavity behind his mirror, bagged ready to sell. He's going to have a whole lot of time added on to his sentence for that. He won't be getting out for a while."

I nod, but I'm so confused. None of this makes sense. I thank the sheriff and go to leave the car, but his hand on my arm makes me pause.

"I know I can never do anything to make up for what happened, but I have a message. It came from the same email address that the request for your details came from. It was two words. 'She wins.' I can only assume that's for you."

I think my heart just stopped. I win? What? Surely it's not that easy. But then I'm not clued up on what Philly's contacts have been up to. Maybe the extra time and the set ups worked. It's over? I can't seem to get myself excited; it seems too good to be true. I thank the sheriff again and this time he lets me leave. As soon as I'm out of the car, I'm surrounded by the guys.

"What was that about?" Skids asks me.

I raise an eyebrow at him and fill him in on the fight and the drugs. "What confuses me though," I start, looking between them all. "Is that he was always extremely anti-drugs. He couldn't stand them. It was one thing he was always adamant about. But now he's dealing large amounts in prison?"

They all keep their faces blank, but Jay speaks up.

"Prison changes people. It can make you do anything just to get through the time."

I see him fighting the grin though, and I hug him tightly.

"That's not all. The sheriff got a message through for me." I watch them all tense up, expecting the worst. "The message said 'she wins'. It's over."

It takes them a few seconds for it to sink in, and then I'm surrounded by them, being hugged and kissed and deafened by their cheers. My phone rings and I manage to wiggle my way out of the mob before answering it. Skids had got me another new one after my last one met its death at the hands of Smiler.

"Hello?"

"Get down to the hospital. Her waters broke an hour ago." It's Ash, and that's all he says before he hangs up.

"Let's go. Mel's having the baby!" I squeal, before running to my bike, not bothering to wait for the others.

***

I hate Mel a little bit right now. Fourteen hours of labour, and the cow still manages to look absolutely stunning. I've been sitting in a waiting room the whole time, and I'm pretty sure I look like a zombie, who's been dragged through a hedge backwards. She's glowing, her eyes are bright and her smile is wide as I enter the room, making sure the door closes quietly behind me. Ash is sitting on the edge of the bed, with a bundle of pink blankets in his arms. I can't see the baby from here, but I don't miss the way his eyes shine with tears as he looks down at his daughter.

"Want to hold her?" Mel asks after I greet her with a kiss on the cheek.

"Think Ash can bring himself to hand her over?" I tease, laughing when he takes a deep breath before holding her out to me. "She's beautiful!" I say, getting my first proper look at her. She's fast asleep, but her skin is unbelievably soft, and she has an almost full head of black hair that feels like silk as I brush my finger tips over it. Ash clears his throat and I look up at him. He's leaning back against the pillow now, with his arm around Mel's shoulders and the couple takes my breath away. Their love is clear to see, and I'm certain that the little girl in my arms is truly lucky to have these two as her parents.

"Want to know her name?" Ash asks quietly. I nod and his smile widens. "Lena May."

My breath catches and my eyes water. "You called her Lena?" I whisper.

They both nod and I try my hardest not to burst into tears. The last thing this baby needs on her first day in the world is me ugly crying all over her.

"You saved them both," Ash says. "I can't bear to think what might've happened if you hadn't got Mel to your room so quickly that day. They're here, and safe, because of you. The least we could do is name her after you."

"We have to ask you something though," Mel says, not bothering to fight her own tears.

"Anything," I say.

"We were wondering if you'd be her godmother?"

I gasp. "Are you serious?" They nod, and I can't fight the tears now. "Of course I will!" I notice Mel yawning and kiss her cheek again. "Get some rest. We'll come back and see you tomorrow."

Ash stands and stretches. "Actually we thought you might like the honour of introducing her to the guys."

I nod. "Absolutely!" Ash opens the door for me and when I look back at Mel, she's already fast asleep. The others look up as we enter the waiting room, and they all stand when they spot the baby in my arms. "Guys, I'd like to introduce you all to my goddaughter, Lena May!" They all look between me and Ash, before mobbing him with pats on the back. I move out of the way and stand near the window holding the baby. Skids and Smiler join me, and for a few moments, we just stand there, marvelling in the miracle of new life and fresh starts.

***

I'm so tired this morning that I surprise Smiler by following him to his bike, rather than walking to my own. I don't think my body is capable of controlling a bike right now, and I can't think of anything better than sitting behind Smiler and curling myself around him as we ride.

I'd finally managed to get the guys to agree to me going back to work, now that everything was over. They still insisted on an escort, and Smiler wasn't exactly ecstatic about me dancing again, but they'd come to realise that it was easier just to give in, rather than have me pissed off at them. I'd been working my arse off for six weeks now, earning as much as I possibly could. I'd worked every single night since I'd gone back. The nights I wasn't dancing I'd been working behind the bar, and now my body is running on nothing but fumes. But as we park up on a quiet street a few minutes from the clubhouse, I feel a second wave of energy hit me.

"What do you think?" I ask them, laughing when they all look lost.

"I'm confused, love. Why are we here?" Skids asks.

I point to the house. "I rented it. I got the keys yesterday before work. I finally managed to save enough for a proper place."

It wasn't anything amazing. It was a one story detached house, with two bedrooms and a small garden for Sammy, but it was mine. For the first time ever I had a real home of my own, without damp, or noisy neighbours, or any fear of being there.

"It's yours?" Smiler asks. "You're staying?"

Now it's my turn to be confused. "Of course I'm staying! Why wouldn't I?"

"We weren't sure what you'd do now. We didn't know if you'd want to move on and start fresh somewhere," Jay explains.

"You bloody idiots. Why would I ever want to leave? You guys are here, and Mel and Lena. This is my home now!"

Smiler picks me up by the waist and spins me around, kissing me hard. I can't believe they ever thought I'd leave them.

"That's not all," I tell them. "The sheriff pulled in a few favours. He knows a lawyer who's been looking for a personal assistant. I start work there next week. Last night was my final shift dancing."

"You're serious?!" Smiler grins.

"Totally. Monday to Friday, nine to five. And a massive pay rise."

I'm wrapped up in a hug and kissed even harder. I've put my roots down and made this place my home. These guys have made me a part of their family. No more running for me, from now on I'm just living.