VOLUME FOUR: A WARRIOR'S CHRISTMAS

Candice

Stepping onto my tip toes, I reach up higher, cursing when I feel my shirt pull free from my black slacks. Looking down I count the steps of the ladder, only to realize I'm on the last one.

Damn my short legs.

Eyeing the top cap, I wonder for a brief moment if I could balance on it, just long enough to hang up this last bundle of lights that I have bunched tightly in my hands.

"Come on Candy, it's just like another step." I whisper, attempting to motivate myself. Shutting my eyes and counting to three, I jump up placing one foot on the top then startle when I feel two hands wrap around my ass, pulling me down the ladder and onto the ground.

"Babe, what the hell are you doing?" Austin grunts and I smile up at him while balancing my hands on his chest. My heart is still pounding from my near death sudden decision so I catch my breath, counting once again before I could speak.

"Trying to hang up this last strand. I was able to do all the other parts of the clubhouse but for some reason that spot there." I point behind Austin causing him to turn at the traitorous location. "Doesn't want me to give it the magical Christmas Candice makeover."

Turning back towards me, I take in the sexy smirk Austin loves giving me when he think I'm being what he calls 'fucking adorable'.

"Babe."

"Do not babe me. I want at that corner again." I march over to it, showing my teeth with a growl only to be stopped by strong arms wrapping themselves around my waist.

"Alright crazy woman, at least let me do it so that you don't get a broken leg for Christmas." Giving the corner one last dirty look, I hand over my strand of lights and watch as Austin chuckles then jumps up on the ladder, placing the lights along the small hook I had Slice and Ghost put up around the clubhouse yesterday with ease.

"I made it easy for you." I say crossing my arms over my chest, gaining another chuckle from him.

"Know I said you could do this, but don't you think you went a little overboard here babe?" My arms lose their ground and fall back to my sides as I turn and look around the clubhouse. Shane and Torque had made a joke about my decorating, but I figured they were just being a bunch of butts.

"No." I turn back around to my husband and take in his features. His brown hair is swept up looking longer than usual indicating that he has most likely been waving his fingers through it. He's wearing his usual dark jeans and white tee and has his cut on over it. Yum.

"Focus babe." I snap out of my peeping and look back up at his face focusing on his brown eyes. "I'm glad that you're doing all of this for the boys. Making Christmas come to life in here is always a good thing, but between Mason, your work and all this Christmas bonanza, I'm worried you're wearing yourself thin."

Looking around the room again, I take in everything that I have been doing for the last four hours. The clubhouse, which normally contains minimal to no kind of decorating, now has an abundance of green and red d¨¦cor. The walls are littered with white peel and stick snowflakes that flow down the hallway. The lights I just hung up along the edges of the walls are gathered along dark green garland, while a large Christmas tree sparkled with silver and gold stays still and quiet in the corner of the room beside the flat screen television the guys love being in front of. I can see small parts of my d¨¦cor that might have been a little on the 'bit much' side, like the dancing elf suspended along the wall of the hallway that shakes his ass to the jingle bells song anytime someone walks by, but I assumed that would be ripped apart the moment Shane walked by enough times.

"I'm fine Austin." I say smiling and turning back towards his worried glance. Since giving birth to Mason over two years ago, Austin has been more worried about me and my ability to handle everything at once. As much as I love that he worries, I'm actually in a very good place. I have my son, my amazing job that I love and the most amazing husband in the world. "I just really wanted to make this year special. It's been a while since we've had a drama free year and this year Mason is old enough to enjoy Christmas and understand what it means."

Austin's eyes go soft from my words, taking in my excited form. Once his smile graces his hard features I move in closer and wrap my arms around him.

"I never did thank you for letting me have control over this whole Nightmare Warriors Christmas thing." I muffle my words into his cut, causing a snicker to shake his body along with mine.

"Babe, like I had a chance after you stripped down into that red thong and asked me." I laugh thinking of the amazing night we had the day after thanksgiving.

I had asked Austin about doing some kind of Charity event for the Children's hospital. Being a nurse I saw firsthand how the bills of the children staying in the hospital could really put a damper on their parent's wallets. Christmas would be just another day for them and I for one, did not want that. Getting the girls together, we harassed the men with naked persuasion until they finally agreed to hold a charity festival to raise enough money for presents. The festival was perfect, filled with small park rides, snack and food bars, prizes, and even a kissing both, which all the men groaned at. When the local law enforcement found out about our charity event, they had sent a few officers to not only help out, but one dressed as Santa to drop off the gifts yesterday. It was the first time in years, that the Warriors and the officers worked together, something I think both sides appreciated.

"Hmm, red huh? Cherry, not really saw you as a red kind of girl, did it have white fur on it as well?" I pull away from Austin to see Max standing at the threshold between the kitchen, which I decorated in snowman d¨¦cor, and the hallway eating an apple.

"Fuck off Max." Austin grumbles giving in once again to his brother simply out to give him a hard time.

"Oh come on Austin. She can't paint a picture of her in some lingerie then act all shy when I hear it. Let me guess Christmas devil, you've got Santa panties on right now don't you?" I lose it, throwing my head back and begin laughing while Austin chases after his brother for hitting on me.

Max loves to give his big brother shit and as much as I hate that he is right about my under garments, I love seeing them act like the two brothers their mother raised them as. The thought makes me smile and I give myself a mental note to call Jared and see how he and his family are doing on their vacation to Dubai.

Max has grown so much since I was first dropped off at the doorstep of this compound filled with cuts and bruises. The once funny but mysterious and heartbroken boy has grown into a loyal and dependable brother in law and great husband and father to Shawna and their daughter Emma.

I snap out of my past when I hear the oven timer beeping at me to come and grab the cookies that I had placed in there less than twenty minutes ago. Walking over to the kitchen, I spot Mindy and Ghost having a chat near the massive table I had put in here a few years ago. I place my Christmas oven mitts over my hands and pull out my two racks of Christmas cookies. Noticing they are perfectly formed; I do a little dance at my awesome backing skills.

"Candice, I'm not sure what dance that is honey, but it needs to stay hidden within your mind, never to be let out again." Mindy states while Ghost simply shakes his head at me with a smirk tugging at the ends of each dimpled cheek.

"Oh shush Mindy, not even you or your bad vibes could ruin this amazing holiday." I say giving an example of another of my awesome moves causing them both to laugh. "Now why does Ghost look like he's going to throw up just by talking to you?" Placing down the cookie sheets, I walk over and sit beside Ghost watching as Mindy gives him another of her stare downs.

"Trying to get him to open up about why he looks so different lately. I think it's a girl." A giant smile pulls at my lips but before I can say anything Ghost clamps down on my mouth with his giant hands giving me and Mindy both stern looks.

"Like I told you before Mindy, none of your fuckin' business. And it's definitely none of Candy's."

Hey, why is it definitely none of mine?

"Oh boo, you suck." Mindy says sticking out her tongue at him. Ghost stands releasing my face and rubs the back of his neck as he walks out of the kitchen.

"Don't know how Slice or Austin deal with either of you." He mumbles causing Mindy to laugh.

"Hey, what did I do?" I shout and giggle when I hear him down the hallway shout.

"That dance for one babe."

"So, aren't you happy you roped me into helping you out today?" Mindy says getting up and grabbing each cookie to place them into the Christmas boxes I bought before I got here. I wanted each of the brothers to have a box of cookies. Some will most likely be here Christmas day and I didn't want them to feel left out.

"Yes, although I do understand not everyone being able to be here. It's Christmas Eve after all and if it weren't for the fact that I write my own schedule, I would have been at work like everyone else."

It's true, the girls wanted to help out but between work, family, and getting everything ready for tomorrow, Mindy was the only old lady that could spare the time.

"So where is Lyla, Shawna and Abby anyways? Aren't you four always joined at the hip?" She says placing her hand on hers.

I laugh then mimic her pose. "Not always."

"Uh huh." She finishes up the last bag while I grab more ingredients for the last batch we need.

"Shawna is working today, she wanted to do one more set before the holidays, and Lyla is at home with her daughter, getting everything ready for Christmas Eve. Adrianna is really excited this year since Lyla has the next few days off."

"Andy Abby?" I smile then look around making sure Chance isn't still here. I saw him earlier when I first arrived but haven't seen him since.

"She's got a surprise for him that she should be revealing later on today." I look up at Mindy smiling when I see her eyes narrow. I had promised Abby I wouldn't tell anyone what her secret was, but I for one think it's an amazing idea what she wants to do.

"You know, I think I miss when you were a quiet and meek scared little girl, instead of this booming force to be reckon with." I giggle knowing damn well she doesn't miss how much I used to hide behind her whenever Austin would call a meeting and I was stuck hanging around a bunch of old ladies I didn't know.

"It feels like a lifetime ago." I whisper starring at the Christmas cookie cut outs.

"There you are." Austin peeks his head around the corner of the kitchen walking over when I give him a smile. "Been looking everywhere for you babe."

"What's up?" I look up when he reaches me and pulls me into his arms. My favorite place to be.

"Got somethin' I want to show you. You good in here by yourself Mindy?" Austin asks looking over to Mindy for confirmation. Mindy smiles at the two of us then waves us off.

"Don't worry about me Prez. I think I'll go and find my man, see if he wants to put another baby in me while these cookies bake." Rolling my eyes at her, I allow Austin to drag me out of the kitchen and towards the back patio where we have had an abundance of cookouts and kids birthday parties, along with Austin and I's wedding.

"Where are you taking me?" I ask giggling when he places his massive hand over my eyes stopping me mid step as I cross over the threshold. Leaning my head back, I marvel in how good he smells and place my arms around his.

"Gonna count to three babe." My smile grows wider as I feel his excitement for my gift. Every year, Austin has made my gift memorable. And every year he allows the moment he gives it to me to be an intimate surprise. Many women hate surprises, but I for one, adore them.

"One, two, three." Lifting his hand from my eyes, I open them and see the most glorious sight.

"Oh my gosh Austin. I love it!" I scream jumping up and down taking in the giant Christmas tree before me. It's the biggest tree I have ever seen, littered with silver and gold bulbs, ornaments and white blinking lights. There are at least one hundred presents under the enormous thing and beside them is the best gift I have ever received.

"Mommy, mommy, you see it?" Mason says jumping up and down, pointing up as if I hadn't noticed the fifteen foot tree in front of me.

Nodding my head, I hold out my arms for my little boy to come running over. Once he crashes into my arms, causing me to nearly fall back from his weight, I look down at him with a smile gracing my face as I take him in. Looking like a small replica of his father, all except for his eyes that mirror mine, Mason is everything I could ever want in a son. Even at the age of two.

"I take it you like it?" Austin asks when Mason, not seconds later, wants down so that he go stand next to the tree once more. I turn around and walk back over to Austin who's carrying a wolf's grin.

"How?. Why?. When?." Giggling when he chuckles, I await his answer when he shrugs.

"All the brothers wanted to do something special for you babe. This year we decided to have a Christmas right here at the club. Every brother and their families will be here."

"Really?" I've always wanted everyone to celebrate together but between some people leaving the city to visit their family and others having children, it was never possible.

"Yeah, guess your constant guilt trips finally kicked in." I reach out, swatting his chest at which he just laughs.

Hugging him to me, I relish in the happiness and joy I feel for my family and friends to be coming together tomorrow. I feel Austin's arms move to wrap around me, but I stop them and bring them forward, letting them stop at my stomach. His eyes widen when he sees my smile at his early Christmas present.

"Are you serious?" He says making me laugh.

"If I remember right, I think that's what you said the last time."

"Fuck babe,." Suddenly I'm picked up and swung around, laughing hard when I hear Austin shout that we are having another baby followed by some of the brothers comments about already having one.

Setting me down, Austin looks down at me while I stare into his deep brown eyes. The same eyes I fell in love with when he was just a rude biker in the middle of my emergency room. Things are finally looking up around here and it's everything I've dreamed about on Christmas Eve.