I stood wearing a red flowing, long sleeve dress, that stopped at my knees. I was happy my face was free of the injuries Sawyer had given to me. My knee was still a little sore, but I was able to walk and work just fine. Many of the men get annoyed when I don't take it easy. I can't count on my hands how many of picked me up and sat me on the couch, and finish whatever it was I was doing. It was annoying. Talon came in as I was putting my hair up. He wore a nice button up with the sleeves rolled up, under his cut and nice jeans. "We wont make it if you keep giving me that look," He told me as his own eyes traveled up and down my body. He then went to the nursery where Shane was. He was dressed and ready, just needed to be put in his car seat. I finished getting ready and we left.

The drive was three hours and filled with us singing to the radio till we got to the small town Talon grew up in. He told me a few stories about the trouble he would get in. When we got to his parent's ranch I became excited when I saw the horses. He chuckled at my bright smile. When he parked the truck he was nervous and I laid a hand on his arm, "It's going to be okay." He gave me a soft smile before nodding and getting out of the truck. He got Shane and offered me a hand out of his truck. A man who looked like a much older version of Talon was on the porch with a man who also looked like Talon, but not as muscular. Two other men were on the porch, but I was going to guess they were his sisters husbands.

They all seem shocked to see Talon here. A woman wearing a yellow, brown, and white dress with a red apron covered in flour came out of the house. Talon put down Shane's carseat and caught the woman who practically threw herself at him. "My baby boy is home," She said as she held him. She then pulled away and wiped her eyes, and turned to me, "You must be Iris, it's so good to finally meet you honey. I'm Hilary, but you can call me mom." She then pulled me into a bone crushing hug. "I've heard so much about you." "Good things I hope," I told her as I returned her hug. She pulled back with a smile, "Of course dear." She then turned her attention to the carseat where Shane was sleeping, "Oh he is just so precious." She then took my hand while Talon picked up Shane's carseat again, "Let's go inside, dinner is almost ready." She made the men on the porch move so we could get inside. I could feel the tension and uncertainty come off of them in drowning waves. I knew that Talon did too, and I hoped things would become better by the end of the night.

Two women in the living room looked at Talon in shock when we came in. Even more in shock when they saw the carseat he was carrying. "You kids get settled," Hilary said before going to the kitchen. Talon sat Shane's carseat down by the couch, "Iris, these are my sisters, River and Rose." I knew from stories that River was the oldest of his younger sisters and had been his partner in crime when they were kids. Rose was the baby of the family and wore that title with pride. "This is my girlfriend Iris, and our son Shane." "He looks nothing like you," was the first thing Rose said. "That is because biologically he isn't mine, but I claim him as my son," Talon told her. "And if she leaves you," Rose asked him. "Then he is still my son," Talon told her. "Plus leaving him is never going to happen," I told her. Rose looked me up and down, lips pursed as she took in every detail about me.

"Ignore her," River said. "It's good to see you're alive and well Talon, and it's good to meet you Iris." At least one of his siblings is decent. "Where are the kids," Talon asked River. "They're out back playing," She told him. Rose scoffed, "Except Sonny's kids. Misty and him got a divorce because Misty couldn't keep her legs shut. She got custody and refused to let him have the kids for Thanksgiving. How does your baby daddy feel about you taking his kid away from him for the holidays?" I smiled sweetly, "Well since the reason we divorced is because he got me pregnant and he signed away his rights as the father, who cares how he feels? Plus he's in jail for sexual assault anyways." Talon put a hand on my lower back and kissed my head, not saying anything as he left the living room to go properly greet his dad. I was going to defend him till my last breath no matter what. Rose snapped her mouth shut, not knowing what else to say as River glared at her. River then gave me a soft smile, "Ignore her Iris. Rose is just pissy Talon is here. She doesn't trust him because he's in a motorcycle club." I rolled my eyes as I sat on the couch, "I'm sorry but that is bull crap. What's there to be scared of?"

"The guns, drugs, women, and other things he deals in," Rose said and I busted into laughter. "Really? Oh honey you need to come home with us and just see what Caged Beasts does for the town. The festivals they have, the community work they do. Sure they aren't clean, the time Talon spent in jail proving that, but they steer clear of women and drugs. They save women from abusive relationships and help get them on their feet. I have met everyone in that club, and they're such nice people. Before you start drilling me with questions, I'm not a hanger or a biker chick. I'm a librarian who has a very clean record. Every person in that clubs, worship the women and children there. They may say vulgar things to them, but that is just biker politics since there is hierarchy there. They're never offensive to them. They'd rather burn their cuts before letting any harm come to them. And if you knew anything about a biker's cut, you would know just how much they treasure women." "What's a cut," River asked me. "It's the leather Talon is wearing. They treasure them because it's a part of them, declaring their club, declaring their allegiance. It's gifted to them with a two patches on it. One on the back, declaring the club they belong too, and another on the front over the heart that is a personal patch designed with their road name. Talon, wasn't really given a road name, so they call him by his actual name." "And thats the other patch Talon has," Rose asked. "His rank. He's third in command, meaning he is a well respected member in the club, with only two above him." "Three," He said while correcting me, "You out rank me baby." I smiled softly as I rolled my eyes. He sat next to me and moved my legs so they were in his lap.

The rest of the men came in and I got to properly meet them. Sonny was cold, while Dexter and Marshal seemed unsure. Dexter was River's husband and Marshal was Rose's. I then met Hank, Talon's dad. He was a big man like his son. The other siblings took after their mother in the height department since they were all of average height. Of course I was still short compared to them.

Talon's POV

She was quick to defend, and I could tell she off the bat didn't like Rose. River isn't cold like she once was and I hoped her and Iris got along. Iris didn't take shit from anyone, and I knew that just because they were my family didn't mean she would hold back if they said something she didn't like. Sonny had basically given me the same treatment about Shane that Rose had, and I nearly slammed my fist into him. He was dealing with the pain of his, now ex-wife, keeping the kids for Thanksgiving. I wasn't going to add salt to wound, unless he said something I truly didn't like or he offends Iris. Dad openly accepted my declaration of Shane though and was happy to have another grandchild. Dexter and Marshal hadn't really said anything since I arrived, so I didn't know what they would say. We had all heard what Iris told my sisters though. God I wanted to kiss that woman.

When dinner was ready, River and Rose herded the kids to the sink to wash up before having them sit at the table for dinner. I had just pushed Iris' chair in when Shane began to cry. She went to stand up, but I kissed her head, "I've got him." She nodded and I went to the living room and took him out of the carseat. I changed his diaper and carried him to the kitchen to make him a bottle. Mom was in the kitchen washing her hands. She dried them and took Shane from me. "You're such a handsome boy," She told him. I smiled softly as I made his bottle. She smiled at me, "You've got a good woman Talon." I smiled as I nodded, "Yes I do." She took the bottle from me instead of giving Shane back, "You go eat." She shooed me out of the kitchen as she followed me to the dinning room. I sighed and sat next to Iris. She smiled, and I kissed her cheek. After my father said a prayer we began to eat.

"So how does your parents feel about being with Talon," Rose asked Iris. "She doesn't know he's in a motorcycle club, but even then she doesn't like him because he isn't my ex-husband," Iris told her. I rolled my eyes, "She only liked him because he was rich." I would've said something more vulgar that I felt was appropriate regarding him but there were kids present. "My mother isn't really a good person," Iris explained to them. "And your father," Rose asked her. Iris had never mentioned him and I had never asked. "Just stop with the interrogation," River snapped at Rose with a glare. "It's okay," Iris told her. "I don't know my father. My mother used to have one of the oldest professions in the world, and he was one of her clients that got her pregnant. He gave her millions, to take care of us. He still gives her an allowance and visits her every so often. I know his face and name, but that's it. I am a grown woman capable of making my own decisions. I've made the decision to be with Talon because he is a good man who treats me right."

Only Iris is able to say her mother is a prostitute with a sugar daddy that got her pregnant while keeping it appropriate in front of children. She was beauty and brains. After that my mother turned the conversation to something more pleasant. Later that night I saw Sonny go out to the patio for a smoke, and I followed him. He offered his pack to me and I shook my head, "I quit." He nodded and put them away so he could light the one between his lips. "I heard about Misty," I told him. "How you doin'?" I asked him. "Like shit," He grumbled. He then looked at me, "I pray whatever guy she gets with, cares about my kids just as much as you care about Shane." He ran a hand through his hair, "It hurt like a bitch when I walked in on her with the neighbor. I had wanted to surprise her for our anniversary so I came home early." He flicked the ashes from the tip of his cigarette. "She wasn't even ashamed, just asked for custody and the house. I asked the kids who did they want to live with since they're old enough to understand. They said her, so I gave her what she wanted. I still go to every event my kids have though. Sometimes she isn't even there, always gives them some lame ass excuse. I have rooms set up for them in case they change their minds. Then I will unleash a hell she's never seen." He sighed, "How did you feel when you found out Iris had a kid?" "I met them both the same day," I told him. I then told him how we met. "We've had some hell that could've put a strain on our relationship, but Iris handles it with a grace I've never seen before. I even almost died last month or so ago," I told him and his eyes widened, his cigarette hanging limply in his lips. "We're in a war with another MC, and shit will be hitting the fan when I get back and she doesn't know it. Last month I was out and I got shot. I fell off my bike, and it crashed into a tree. She sat by my bed for more than twenty four hours waiting to see if I'd wake up or pass away, not sleeping for a minute." "She doesn't know anything," He asked me. "She knows shit is bad between us, but she doesn't know we're about to make our first move. Shit will go bad if I'm not careful," I told him with a nod.

"What will happen to her and Shane if something happens to you," He asked me. "The club will take care of her, she's one of us and so is Shane," I told him. He ran another hand through his hair, "And she'll have me." I looked at him in shock, and he met me seriously. "I never liked you being part of an MC, due to all the crap Misty told me. Then shortly after I divorced her I met some guys in a MC a couple years ago." He then unbuttoned his suit jacket, showing me a leather cut. My eyes widened, "How the hell?" He rebuttoned it, "We've been out of contact for a few years. Shit has changed." He ran his hand through his hair again, "I'm sorry about the shit I said about Iris. Its the third year in a row I haven't seen my kids for Thanksgiving, and it just hit. When I saw you with Shane, and knowing he isn't yours, it made me angry, because I know Misty's taste in men suck, and I know she won't find a good one that will accept them." I clapped him on the back, "It's okay, I get it." And I did. I'd probably be the same way if I was in his shoes.

"So do our parents know," I asked him. He nodded, "They agreed we not tell our sisters, or I would've come dressed like you. That was until I heard Iris school Rose about biker politics, and now I don't really care what they think." I nodded then smirked, "So what's your road name?" He chuckled, "Rogue. I'm a member of the Shadow Serpent MC. I was finally patched in a year or so ago."

I felt slim arms wrap around my waist, "Nice road name." Iris told him. "Is it because you went from being a posh business man to a biker?" He chuckled and nodded, "Something like that." He then looked down to her knee, a bandage over it. She wore it to simply cover the remaining scabs on it in front of my family. "What happened to you knee," He asked her. "Her ex husband sexually assaulted her and had thrown her on the ground when the cops showed up. She rolled over the glass from a bottle he broke," I replied instead. "He still breathing," He asked me. "Unfortunately," I grumbled. "His ass is rotting in jail as we speak." She smacked me for cursing and I kissed her head. He nodded and put his cigarette out, "If you guys ever need me, I'm only a call away." "Your club comfortable with you leaving any time like that," I asked him. He nodded, "They know about the Talon with razor sharp blades and the Caged Beasts who are being made a mockery of by Locked Jaw. We've all heard the rumors. Family comes first, no matter the patch on the back of the cut." His phone began to ring and he walked away to answer it.

Iris moved to stand in front of me, "See? There was nothing to be scared of." I chuckled and wrapped my arms around her, "You were right." She smiled, "I will never get tired of hearing those words. I laughed before I gave her a kiss. She gripped my shirt and deepened the kiss.

"Get a room," River said, making us break apart. Iris hid her red face into my chest. "I would but we don't want to leave Shane," I told her and Iris smacked my chest, her blush deepening. "I'm gonna go see if your mother needs help with him." Iris then walked back into the house, leaving us alone.

"So what's going on with you and Dexter? I couldn't help but notice his anger that you wouldn't sit next to him during dinner," I asked her. She looked away, "We're fine." "Bullshit, what's going on," I asked her. "Let's go out to the barn," She said and began to walk to the barn. I noticed Rogue, and gestured with my head that he follow us. We got in the barn and she was shocked to see it wasn't just me.

"So what's going on," I asked her. She sighed and lifted her shirt, showing she was covered in bruises. Sonny turned on his heel and went to go confront Dexter, but I grabbed him, "Talk." "Please don't make a scene here. The kids don't know and I don't want mom to know either. I've been trying to save up to get us out of there, but he lost his job because he was caught drinking on the clock and I've had to keep buying food and such with it. I think he found out, I'm trying to leave with the kids and he threatened me. Said he'd kill me if I tried. I-I'm really scared guys." "So I say we bury him in the cow pastor, no one will find him there," Sonny said. I shook my head, "We can't kill him. He's still a father to those kids." "Come on Talon, make it look like an accident, they don't have to know," He said. "Trust me Rogue, I'd love too, but I've got enough shit to deal with. I don't need to add covering my ass after killing him to that list," I told him. "Rogue," She asked confused as she lowered her shirt, covering the bruises. He showed her his cut, "It's my road name." "Same MC," She asked us and we shook our heads. "I'm part of Shadow Serpent in North Carolina," He told her. She nodded then looked so scared, "What do I do guys?" We pulled out our wallets and handed her the cash and her eyes filled with tears and she covered her face. Another hand held out cash as well. It was Rose. "I don't like the shit you two are in, but we're still family," She told her. River wiped her eyes, "I-I can't accept this." "Yes you can, and you will accept taking my house since I'm not using it anymore," Iris said as she came into the barn. "W-What," River asked her. "I've moved into the compound with Talon, so I have a house, that's fully paid off, waiting for you and the kids," She told her. "You can't waist another second, or things will get worse." River reluctantly took what we offered and then threw herself at us, bawling her eyes out. "I'll go back with you and make sure you get to Talon safely," Sonny told her. She nodded, "Okay." I smiled and kissed her head, "It's gonna be okay. Just let us take care of the ugly parts." "So are we going to rough him up even a little," Marshal asked as he came in with our Dad. "No, we keep this away from the kids and your mother. Lord knows she'll have a heart attack," Dad said. He then looked at River, "How long has this been going on?" "The drinking has been going on for a year, the abuse started four months ago," She told us.

"It stops tonight. Sonny, you get her out without getting your ass thrown in jail," Dad told him. "We do this as clean as possible." "Sir yes sir," Sonny said. When we left the barn we made it seem like we were joking and having fun. I pulled Iris to me, so they would get to the house before us. "Well tonight went a lot different than I thought it would," I told her. She smiled, "It could be worse." I nodded, "This is true." I then bent my head down, "Now where were we?" I kissed her again, pulling her as close as possible. When I pulled away, I took her hand, "Come on I want to show you my favorite spot on the property."