Page 101 of Pooh

When Craig finally comes to a stop, the entire courtroom is smothering laughter and the look on the judge’s face is priceless. He looks at Craig for a moment, then Pippa and finally looks to the gallery where I’m sitting with the whole club.

“Craig, language!” Pippa quietly reprimands him.

“Shhh, Pips! That judge guy is thinking,” Craig shoots back, not so quietly.

“It sounds like you’re one very happy little boy with where you’re at and who you have in your life. You’re very lucky, Craig,” the judge says, solemnly.

“Well, duh. And not only do I have Pips as my new mom but I’m getting Pooh as my new dad soon too. He’s asking Pips to marry us today. I get to give her the ring when she says yes. She’ll be so excited she’ll probably wear her jammies to our wedding,” Craig unknowingly spills the beans.

The courtroom goes dead silent and then Pippa’s eyes meet mine. I can only shake my head yes and grin at her. I shrug my shoulders and pray this ends soon before Craig gives up anything else.

“You are going to say yes, right, Pips? You have to want to marry Pooh and me because we’re fricking awesome and that way Pooh can adopt me too and we can do this all over again. But without the ugly ass clothes, though. I’m not wearing this crap twice.”

“Ms. Holbrook. Do you want to answer the boy’s question before I grant this adoption? I mean, how can you say no to such a cute face?” the judge says while grinning huge.

“The answer is yes. To Craig and to Pooh. My answer will always be yes to a life with them,” Pippa answers with tears in her voice.

The End

Or is it…

-*- Chubs -*-

Remembering a few months ago…

Tooling along in my customized wheelchair, my face and heart are both smiling. The club is having a cookout today in honor of Lucy finally being released from the hospital last week. Technically, I was released two months ago but I’ve been staying at Lucy’s side non-stop. It’s so nice to finally be home, and with my girl, both of us alive and healing.

I look over my shoulder and see Lucy, grinning, in a padded trailer being pulled behind my wheelchair. Trigger made the trailer for Lucy so she and I can get around the club’s compound. Trigger, along with the other brothers also customized my motorized wheelchair by putting ape hangers and tailpipes on it, along with a custom paint job, courtesy of Bailey. It’s cool as hell. The fact that my brothers did this for me and Lucy just makes it all that much cooler.

The Devil’s Angels MC, my club, has had a rough time of it lately but things are looking up. First Ava, and then Bailey, was in danger and the club stepped up to keep them safe. They’re my President and Vice President’s women and both are strong, independent and take-no-shit kind of females. They count me as one of their friends and that’s an honor as far as I’m concerned.

Bailey is the one who brought Lucy into my life. We met through her and she has encouraged us from the start. We’re a new couple, very new actually, since most of our time together has been spent in a hospital. But that was a blessing, in a way, because we’ve spent so much time getting to know each other. I feel like I’ve known her forever and she knows more about me than anyone else in the world.

I pull to a stop near the picnic table that is currently occupied by Axel and Bailey.

“Hey, Chubs. Hey, Lucy,” Bailey greets us, smiling.

Since leaving the hospital, Lucy and I have stayed at Axel and Bailey’s place. The apartment over the bakery has too many stairs to maneuver and so does Lucy’s real apartment. Her parents would love for us to come stay with them and Lucy’s sister Lisa, but neither of us wants to be at the Governor’s mansion. Their vacation home is too far from the clubhouse to stay there, so here is where we are for now. And it works for us. Bailey is thrilled to have Lucy close since they are best friends and I like being near my club brothers, Ava and most especially, the twins and Bella.

“Hi,” Lucy responds, still speaking quietly due to the gunshot wound she suffered, trying to keep me safe. Yeah, that’s a kick in the ass. That fact doesn’t make my male ego dance in happiness but it did prove her loyalty to me. In spades. Bailey proved hers by trying to protect both of us. Like I said, I love these MC women.

Bailey walks to Lucy and helps extricate her from the wagon and helps her to the table. It takes some doing since Gee and Duffy were crowded in with her. They like riding in the wagon with Lucy and it’s not usually an easy feat to get Duffy out of the wagon. He’s being kind today and lets Bailey move him enough for Lucy to stand up.

Bella walks up next to my chair and leans against me. She leans in and gives me a sweet kiss on the cheek. God, I love that girl. She strolls off towards the tables of food and I know she’ll bring me a plate of goodies.

Lucy and I visit with Bailey and Axel and all the others who stop at our table. And that’s most everyone at one point or another. I can’t describe how nice it is to fit in with the people I am surrounded with. I’m not considered the oddball or the mistake here. I’m Chubs, their club brother, family member and friend.

I know I’m the heart and soul of the Devil’s Angels because everyone treats me that way. I don’t know what I ever did to gain that level of respect though. I’m just me. Gunner’s dad used to tell me that everyone saw something in me that I’ve never been able to see in myself. I guess it doesn’t really matter because I can’t change who I am and I can’t change their perception of me. Not that I want to!

“Chubs? Chubs? Adriano Zanetti! Brock Cooper! Are you listening to me? I give up,” Lucy sighs as she starts to climb off the couch.

It finally clicks that she has been speaking to me for a while and I was off in my own world and not listening. I quickly grasp her wrist and gently pull her back down beside me and tight to my side.

“I’m sorry, Lucy. Really, I am. My mind was wandering and I didn’t hear you, baby doll. What were you saying?”

“What’s been on your mind lately? You’ve been distracted a lot. Is there something wrong?”

“No, nothing’s wrong. Just thinking about things. Is that what you were trying to ask me about?”

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