5 years. 5 long years since she had left. Now, passing the "Welcome to Charming" sign, she breathed a sigh of relief. She couldn't help but wonder if she would recognize anyone, if they would recognize her, or if they would even want her around. She did leave them, with no word to any of them in the last 60 months.

Alexa Jade Delaney, or AJ, was the product of a one night stand between Big Otto Delaney and a tweaked out sweet butt who bailed as soon as AJ turned 5. AJ still remembered the day her "mom" left. She was unceremoniously dropped off at Teller-Morrow Automotive with a small duffel bag of clothes and a note that said "She's your problem now. You can deal with it!" AJ had no idea who her father was, only that he was a Son. Her mother only ever spoke spitefully of him, and said he was worthless, and a freak. It was this, and the steel-blue eyes of AJ's that had everyone believing that she might be another of Tig Trager's children. Only once AJ told them her mother's name did they realize she was Otto's daughter, not Tig's.

Growing up, AJ's only female role models were her step-mom, Otto's wife, porn queen Luanne Delaney, and SAMCRO queen Gemma Teller. Needless to say, by the time AJ reached puberty, she was 5 feet of pure dynamite. Explosive temper and never one to bite her tongue, it was not unusual for AJ to show up for her shift at the garage with bruised knuckles, wearing blood that was not her own. The first time it happened, AJ had been in junior high school. She was a smart girl, but never boastful about her achievements. A few of the cheerleaders cornered her at lunch for throwing off the curve of the last exam in algebra. After the taunts of "nerd" and "geek" did nothing to rile her, they resorted to badmouthing her family. AJ could handle people talking about her, hell, she was used to it by now, but nobody talked about anyone in her family and got away with it. Her first swing connected with the head cheerleader's jaw and sent her to the floor, where AJ climbed on top of her and proceeded to bloody and bruise the girls face.

By the time Otto got back to the lot, AJ had been picked up from school by her Uncle Tig, as she had taken to calling him. A 3 day suspension from school, and a nasty cut on the hand from the other girl's teeth were the only punishments AJ received. Luanne and Gemma tried to scold AJ for the fight and Otto for his lack of discipline, but to no avail. AJ was Otto's little girl, and she had every member of SAMCRO wrapped around her finger. They all had trouble telling her no, Jax Teller and Opie Winston were no exception. If they were up to something, and she wanted to tag along, she would simply bat her long eyelashes at the pair until they agreed. It usually ended up with Jax and Opie being blamed for putting AJ in situations that she shouldn't have been in, even if it was her fault.

This inability to tell her no was the main reason for AJ leaving Charming in the first place. Sure, she hadn't gone very far, only getting to a small town right outside Tacoma. She wasn't going anywhere that she knew she would be unprotected, just in case. The only one who knew where she was in the last 5 years was the guy who had become her best friend, her partner in crime, Kozik. The blonde biker had seen to it that AJ was comfortable in her home and that she was well protected, even if it meant keeping the secret from his brothers. It really wasn't so much keeping a secret, as they never asked, and he never volunteered the information.

Pulling into the Teller-Morrow lot, AJ remembered the day she had left. Being here, in this spot, brought the memory flooding back into her mind like it was only yesterday. She had been up all night, sick with worry, about him, and about the possible situation he had put them in. Clay Morrow, SAMCRO President, had called in help from some of the Nomads, and of course he had come. Happy Lowman was one of the scariest guys you could ever meet. Not much for talk, Happy was more of an action kind of man, and that was mainly why Clay had called him for help with the situation. AJ had seen Happy around the clubhouse a few times, and couldn't help but notice the way the Crow-Eaters tended to avoid him. This aura of mystery and danger was initially what attracted AJ to Happy. He wasn't safe, he wasn't a nice guy, and that was exactly what AJ thought she wanted. The man walked with a certain swagger that made it hard to believe he wasn't well-endowed. There first time together had been rough, hard, and every bit as amazing as AJ had imagined. She woke up the next day, alone in the bed, sore in all the right places, and with no sign that Happy had ever been there.

This not-so-secret liaison continued for quite some time. AJ knew that she wasn't the only one Happy was coming to for "comfort", and she was ok with that. She didn't want to be tied down in a relationship, and there was no way she was ready to be someone's old lady. Then it happened. The day her father was arrested, the last day her life ever seemed normal again. AJ was 18 when it happened, when Otto was taken away from her. It was also the last day she had been in Charming, until this moment. Happy had been out on a run with the guys, and they were supposed to be back that day. AJ was pacing nervously in clubhouse. Juice, the new prospect, was trying to keep her calm, assuring her that they were ok, the guys would be back soon, and all would be well. Only, it wasn't their well-being she was worried about. Her period, which had always been normal since it had started, was late. She knew of Happy's penchant for reusing condoms, and just assumed that act of stupidity had finally caught up with them.

Half an hour later, the guys made it back onto the lot. AJ was comforted by the familiar rumble of all the Harley's returning. They came through the doors in small groups, Clay, Tig, and Bobby first, followed by Jax and Opie, with Happy and Chibs following them in. When Happy saw her, he knew something was up, he could tell by the sullen look on her face. Instead of talking privately, Happy decided he wasn't in the mood for any melodramatics from some piece of ass, and called her out about it in front of everyone. "I'd rather talk about this alone, Happy!" AJ told him. "Nah, I'm not in the mood for any talking, especially not when it's only gonna be talking" was Happy's reply. This made AJ's temper flare and she saw red. "Alright Happy, you want to talk out here, fine. You are a cheap bastard, and I think I'm pregnant!" The color drained from Happy's face, and the room went silent. "Get rid of it" were Happy's only words to AJ. With that, she fled from the room, grabbed her bag, and left. The first few weeks were constantly ignored calls from Jax and Gemma, who were concerned for her, Tig, who was pissed at her, and from Chibs, who genuinely missed her. Slowly, the calls stopped coming, and AJ was grateful for that.

Turns out, AJ hadn't been pregnant, just stressed. But it was too late for her to come back anyway. She had left, without a word, and hadn't looked back. Yet here she was, staring at the doors to the SAMCRO clubhouse, biding her time. She was hoping that there might be a big party going on, so that her return wouldn't be too big of a deal. But the most movement she had seen was Bobby going inside. Deciding that she couldn't wait any longer, AJ stepped out of her car, stomped out her cigarette on the ground, and made her way to the door.

Opening the door slowly, AJ walked inside. Chibs and Tig were sitting at the bar, drinking a beer and talking. Opie and Jax had a nice game of pool going, and Juice, who apparently had become a fully patched member while she was gone, was focused on whatever he was looking at on his laptop, probably porn. Seeing that no one had noticed her come in, AJ cleared her throat. Juice was the first to look up. "Uh, Jax!" Upon hearing his name, Jax and Opie turned their attention to where Juice was staring. "AJ, is that really you?" "Yep, Jax, it's really me."