Jax looked over at his brother talking to the barmaid and smiled. It was about time he plucked up the courage to talk to her alone. Everyone else was passed out on various couches and under tables. There was noises that sounded suspiciously like sex coming from the back rooms. It was quiet now. He watched them secretly from his space beside Clay.

"You ok?" He asked softly, he was still drunk; still emotional. Not that he'd let the rest of the crew see it.

"Yeah," I whispered back.

I was so nervous. I had never been nervous around him before but I guess I had never been alone with him before. Yeah, there were stolen glances, the coy smiles on his part and the odd flirtatious jibe but I had never been this close to him. In the dim electric lights of the clubhouse I could see his eyes, bleary and unfocused looking at me. I could feel it too.

"I'll never forgive him," he said as he handed the beer bottle to me, "not after-."

I laughed bitterly and drank. I shook my head causing some long dark hair to fall in front of my face.

"Doesn't matter now. It's done. I'm not part of the club, not an old lady- hell, I'm not even a club whore. I'm a barmaid. That's all. I didn't even expect them to come back for me."

He swiped the bottle back and drank the last of it. He was looking at me again.

"Sweet girl," he said in a voice that filled me with comfort but made my heart race, "if you weren't here, how would we get drunk?"

I laughed genuinely this time.

"Glad I mean so much to you."

I continued cleaning up the bar, loading things into the washer and wiping down the sides. The clubhouse was a mess. I couldn't expect Gemma to clean it all. She had enough on her plate without worrying about the state of the bar. Once all the glasses were clear I walked around with a bin liner to collect empty bottles, stepping over drunk crew members as carefully as I could. I heard clinking of glasses and smiled when I realised Chibs was helping me.

"You don't have to.." I started to say but he cut me off.

"You mean the world to me," he said without looking at me, "I'd do anything for you. I don't mean cleaning though because I fucking hate it."

He put two handfuls of bottles on the bar and grabbed a bag of his own to start cleaning up cigarette packets and crisps and nuts. I watched in awe but I didn't know what to say. He was avoiding my gaze I think.

"Ch- Filip." I said seriously and the mention of his real name caught his attention and made him look over, "you don't have too. I can do it by myself."

I didn't know if I meant the cleaning or coping. He shook his head. His hair was loose and he had washed it recently I think. He dropped the bag and came striding over to me, tripping over Bobby. Suddenly his hand was on my sore cheek but his touch was gentle. His fingers trembled slightly as they traced the new scar. I couldn't do anything but look up at him in shock.

"Sweet Girl," he said and my heart leapt in my chest. He must have felt the pulse in my neck because he smiled, "sweet girl," he murmured again and pulled me into a hug.

I don't know what came over me. I don't know what happened but I collapsed into him and cried. I wrapped my hands into his leather cut and he held me closer. He smelt of beer and tobacco, of leather and motor oil. He smelt exactly like I expected him too. His fingers ran through my hair, working through the tangles and knots before I felt him rest his head against mine.

"I'd do anything for you," he said again but gentler this time, "I'd kill them all for you."

I looked up at him and shook my head. I must have looked a mess but he was looking at me like I was the Mona Lisa. He rested his hands on my neck and wiped beneath my eyes with his thumbs; dried under my nose with his sleeve and kissed my lips with his. My eyes fluttered closed as he pulled me closer if that was even possible.

"Anything," He mumbled to me again.

"You don't have to do anything," I whispered back to him, "Just help me clean up this mess."

He laughed loudly and bent to bury his face in my neck, I laughed too and let my cheek rest against his.

Clay nudged his son and nodded towards Chibs and the barmaid. Jax smiled again and handed a 20 over to him.

"Told you," Clay said before standing and stumbling towards Gemma at the door.

Jax shook his head and stood, giving Chibs a nod before throwing on his jacket and leaving.