A/N I'm still working on New Start, but I fell in love with this idea and was so excited about it that it just took off. Lots and lots of thanks to AFspouse for jump starting the idea and helping me work through the story!

Also, this story is COMPLETELY AU. Kinda takes place after season 4, but it doesn't follow cannon. There is no Abel or Thomas, Jax was never married to Wendy, lots of people are still alive that should be dead, etc

Elle Haywood parked her car in front of the pawn shop and stepped out, taking a look around at the tiny town she would soon be calling home. She took a deep breath and walked into the store where her best friend, Rebecca Manning, screeched in welcome, her long, bleach-blond hair bouncing behind her and her green eyes sparkling as she ran up to Elle, giving her a hug.

"You made it!" she squealed and Elle nodded.

"Hey Bex," she said, slightly less enthusiastically. Bex stepped back, giving her a hard look.

"You doin okay?" she asked. Elle shrugged, not really sure what the answer to that question was. Three days ago, she'd been happily living with her fiancé, Clark Monahan, whom she'd been with for nearly 8 years, in Modesto, California, where he was a defense attorney. They'd met when Elle was just a senior in high school and he had been a year away from getting his law degree. As soon as Elle had graduated from Lodi High School, they'd moved in together while he finished school and then moved to Modesto when he got a job offer. He'd finally proposed on their 4 year anniversary, but had spent the next 4 years pushing their wedding date back further and further. He wanted to wait until he had a job, he wanted to wait until he was more respected at his firm, he wanted to wait until he made partner.

And she had waited, faithfully by his side. She'd never gotten a job because he claimed he wanted to be able to take care of her, but on more than one occasion she'd thought that he didn't want a fiancé who was only suited to fold clothes or wait tables. But throughout it all, she was happy with him and knew they'd have a great life together.

That is until a few days ago when he came home and let her know he had been seeing someone on the side for a few years, that they were getting serious, and she had 2 days to pack her shit and find a new place to live. She had been completely devastated, with no clue what she could possibly do. She had no friends of her own in Modesto – the only people she really socialized with were Clark's friends -so she called her best friend from high school, Bex, who had been quick to offer her a job at the pawn shop she'd just inherited from her uncle in the small town of Charming, as well as a place to live until she got back on her feet.

"I really appreciate this, Bex, I really do," Elle told her sincerely, and Bex just smiled and nodded.

"Please, what are friends for?" she asked with a wave of her hand. Elle smiled, and then turned as the sound of motorcycles riding down the street grew louder.

"Sons of Anarchy?" she asked, a slight excitement in her voice. Bex nodded.

"Oh yeah," she said, nodding. Elle watched the bikers stop at a light in front of the store, carrying on a conversation over the roar of their bikes. She felt her breath catch as she watched them take off when the light changed and realized she was subconsciously fluffing her short black hair. She turned back to Bex, grinning.

"God we were obsessed with them in high school," she said reminiscently, remembering being 17 in Lodi, the next town over from Charming, watching the Sons ride into town every so often. They were like these untouchable enigmas to the small town high school girls; so dangerous, so sexy.

"Yeah we were," Bex said, sharing in her memories before snapping back to reality, "I better get back to work, I've got some inventory to get through. Let me give you your key to the apartment and you can go on over and unpack, get settled in. I'll probably take off a couple hours early today so I can help you." Elle took the key from her hand, smiling appreciatively at her.

"Thanks, Bex, for everything," Elle said before Bex shooed her out of the store.

"So how was work?" Elle asked Bex. They were in the kitchen at Bex's apartment, trying to scrounge together enough food to make something edible for dinner that night. Bex shrugged.

"Work was work," she said vaguely, "Are you gonna be up for starting tomorrow?" Elle nodded.

"Yeah, I've got to get busy doing something, otherwise I'll just be spending the day wallowing in my own self-pity," she said, sighing. Bex shook her head.

"No, we don't want that," she said as she pulled some pasta from the back of the pantry and filled up a pan to boil water.

"So listen, I'm going to a SAMCRO party tonight and I really want to take you with me, but it's kind of an invite only type thing. I've been trying to get you in, but so far it's been a no go. It'll happen though – you've got to come with me. Their parties are the best!" she said.

"SAMCRO?" Elle repeated, "What, Sons of Anarchy? Seriously?" Bex grinned and nodded while Elle stared at her, impressed.

"Yeah, and don't worry, I'll get you in. Just no can do for tonight," she said. Elle nodded, wondering what the mysterious biker boys were like in person and extremely disappointed that she would have to wait to find out.

That night, she watched as Bex, scantily clad in a tiny skirt and tight halter top that left little to the imagination, waved goodbye and headed out to party with the badass bikers. Elle sat on the couch, watching TV, left to wonder what it was like.

Bex never came home that night, so when it was time for Elle's shift at the pawn shop, she headed down there solo. When she got there, Bex was behind the counter, looking hung over and miserable. She glanced up when she heard Elle walk in.

"Oh thank God you're here," she said, "I can barely function." Elle laughed.

"Yeah, I'm not surprised. You never came home last night," she said, fishing for some information.

"I know, I passed out on the pool table with one of the Sons," she said, wriggling her eyebrows, "Which is why I always make sure I have a change of clothes in my car." Elle joined her on her side of the counter, leaning against it.

"So did you have fun?" she asked.

"Oh, lots of fun," Bex said suggestively. Elle laughed.

"Any word on if I can come next time?" she asked hopefully. Bex shook her head.

"No, not yet," she said, "But don't worry, it'll happen." Elle nodded disappointedly.

"Okay, let's start your training," Bex announced, taking a huge swig of coffee before walking her through the steps of the pawn shop.

After a couple of weeks, Elle pretty much had the system at the pawn shop down, but watched as several nights a week Bex headed off to SAMCRO parties, leaving Elle behind with a few half- hearted promises that she'd talk to some Gemma lady (again) about letting Elle come. Elle didn't understand what a big deal it was for her to tag along – it was just a party, after all.

"They just want to make sure they know who's hanging around," Bex explained one day, "A lot of shit goes down in that clubhouse – they can't let just anybody in."

"Okay," Elle said begrudgingly, "I'm just so tired of sitting at home every night while you go out and have the time of your life."

"I know, I'm sorry," Bex said, "You're right - I've been a completely shitty friend." Elle shook her head, smiling.

"No way, you gave me a job and a place to live during the worst time in my life. Going to some parties without me doesn't make you a shitty friend," she responded firmly. Bex grinned.

"Okay but I still want to make it up to you – let's hit the Hairy Dog tonight, you and me." Bex suggested. Elle nodded.

"Yeah, that sounds fun," she said.

That night, Bex and Elle headed out together to the only bar in Charming – the Hairy Dog. They walked in and looked around. It was fairly small, mildly crowded, and dimly lit, with a bar in the center and pool tables in back.

"God I get so used to not having to pay for drinks at SAMCRO parties," Bex lamented as she dug her wallet out of her purse as they walked up to the bar.

"Ha, must be nice," Elle said. They ordered their drinks and walked over to a table to the side of the bar to sit down.

"Don't worry, I'll get the okay to bring you along soon," Bex said encouragingly.

"So what are they like?" Elle asked excitedly, "The parties?"

"Crazy," Bex responded, sipping on her beer, "It's just wild. And they've been crazier than usual lately because there's been a huge regime change in the club and they've been celebrating."

"So have you hooked up with any of them?" Elle asked.

"Oh yeah, yeah. I mean, not all of them, but a fair few. Some of them have their favorites, so it's harder to get in with them, but hooking up is pretty much expected as a Croweater," she said. Elle raised her eyebrows curiously.

"Croweater?" she asked.

"Yeah, that's what they call us. It's kind of an honor, actually. There are a lot of girls that just hang around the club, come to the parties and stuff every so often. But when you're a Croweater, you take care of them, and they take care of you. It's like a family," she explained. Elle raised her eyebrows.

"You take care of them?" she repeated, "What, you just sleep with anyone who wants you?"

"No, not anyone," Bex said, "Just… any patched members." Elle laughed, shaking her head at her friend.

"Oh, okay," she said.

"It's just fun you know," Bex said, returning to her drink, "I mean, you've been sleeping with the same guy for the last 8 years. Maybe it's time for you to loosen up. I mean, remember what it was like in high school?" Elle grinned at the memory.

"Yeah, pretty much a different football player every weekend," she said with a laugh, "Those were the days." Bex shook her head.

"Those days are back, Elle. And I can tell you this – they're all dynamite in bed. At least… the ones I've slept with. And bed is a loose term, usually it's like, dynamite on the pool table, or on top of the bar, or in the bathroom, or-"

"Yeah I get the picture," Elle interrupted her, shaking her head at her friend.

"I don't know…" Elle said slowly. "I pretty much put that kind of life away after high school."

"Yeah, cuz you were wasting your time with Mr. Douchebag," Bex pointed out. Elle shrugged.

"Yeah, but still…" she said, "I guess I'll just have to see when I finally get to go, if that ever happens. See if I want to."

"Oh, you'll want to," Bex said knowingly, and Elle laughed, finishing up her beer and noticing some guys starting to rack up at the pool table. Elle leaned over the table conspiratorially to Bex.

"Hey, you wanna get those drinks paid for, and then some?" she asked with a mischievous smile. Bex grinned.

"What were you thinking?" she asked. Elle nodded her head towards the pool tables.

"I can run em," Elle said, grinning. Bex raised her eyebrows.

"Since when?" she asked. Elle shrugged.

"Since Clark bought that huge house in Modesto, put a pool table in one of the rooms, and wouldn't let me get a job. I spent two years playing 4 hours a day, teaching myself," she said. She tugged on her shirt so her cleavage hung out a bit, "And if they're still better than me, I can distract them like crazy," she added with a wink.

A few hours later, Elle was winning her 4th straight game and was $100 bucks up. The guys she was playing against were starting to look extremely pissed from getting swindled out of all their money, so Bex grabbed Elle's arm, pulling her away as she counted her winnings.

"I believe that's our cue to leave," she said, giggling as they left the bar.

A couple weeks later, Elle was sitting behind the counter at the pawn shop while Bex was at home, nursing a hangover. Perks of being the owner. It had been a little over a month since Elle had moved to Charming and she was finding the small town, well, charming.

The neighborhood residents had begun to recognize Elle and would wave in greeting as they saw her walk past on her way to the shop in the mornings. The town was void of any big chains and corporations – almost all the businesses were locally owned and operated, which gave it a very classic Americana vibe. Growing up 30 miles away in Lodi, she had never had any reason to come into Charming, and even though it was so close, it felt like another world. Lodi was a typical town – starbucks on every corner, big walmart, the usual. Elle wondered what kept the chains from moving on in to Charming – they seemed to be taking over everywhere else.

In about the middle of her shift, the shop had emptied out and she was getting bored, so she grabbed her phone out of her purse with the full intention of playing angry birds, but somehow managing to get on facebook to check Clark's profile.

"Son of a bitch," she muttered, as Clark's profile popped up, claiming he was engaged to a girl named Susan Ashby. Elle frowned as she tried to place the name; she knew she'd heard it before. She clicked on the girl's profile and her eyes widened. She was one of the partners at his firm, "Son. Of. A. BITCH!" she bellowed, slamming her phone on the counter. She glanced down at her own engagement ring, still sitting on her finger – one of the few things she had taken with her when she left. Up until now, she hadn't had the heart to take it off, but now she ripped it angrily off her finger, tossing it on the counter.

It continued to sit there, staring at her, taunting her. She didn't know why she still had it. When Clark had kicked her out, he'd barely let her bring her clothes with her. She'd had nothing, and had had to spend her first pay check from the pawn shop replacing a lot of it. She quickly looked up the search about how much the ring was worth and decided right then and there to sell it to the shop.

"Hey, sweetheart," a voice said and Elle jumped in surprise. She hadn't heard anyone come in. She glanced up at the customer and tried to keep her jaw from dropping. The first thing she noticed was his cut with the Redwood Original patch on one side and the Sergeant At Arms patch on the other. Her eyes widened as she looked into one of the faces of SAMCRO.

"You're one of the Sons of Anarchy," she blurted out. He grinned, his eyes looking her up and down.

"Yeah, I know I am," he said, his eyes finally resting on her chest. Elle subconsciously tugged her v-neck tshirt down slightly to give him a better look as she stared at the member of the MC she'd been enamored with since high school.

"My name's Elle. My friend Bex has been trying to get me an invite to your parties for weeks," Elle told him.

"Your friend who?" he asked.

"Bex Manning," Elle told him, "She's been out there almost every night this month."

"Yeah, I'm not so good with names," he admitted.

"Oh you know, bleach blond hair, really tan, about yay high…" her voice trailed off as she held a hand up several inches above her head. He shook his head.

"Yeah, you're describing about half the girls at our parties, sweetheart," he said, grinning.

"She owns this shop," Elle said, hoping to trigger his memory.

"Oh yeah, that girl!" the biker said in recognition, "Her name's Bex? Huh. I always just call her Perky." Elle raised her eyebrows in surprise and he leaned over the counter.

"You know, cuz of her tits," he explained, "I mean have you seen those things? They're like up to here." He motioned to his shoulder as his eyes glazed over.

"Right," Elle said, not really knowing what else to say. He shook his head, returning his attention to Elle.

"So she's been trying to get you an invite, huh?" he asked, "Well, consider yourself officially invited." Elle grinned excitedly.

"Really?" she asked. He nodded.

"Sure thing, just tell 'em Tig invited you," he said. Elle nodded.

"Thanks, um, Tig!" she said, "So, what can I do for you?" Tig dropped a gun on the counter.

"I need to pawn this," he said, and Elle raised her eyebrows in surprise.

"You're pawning your gun?" she asked.

"Yeah, well, it's not like it's the only one I have," he responded gruffly.

"Yeah, but, you're the Sergeant at arms," she said, leaning over the counter, her eyes resting on the patch, "Doesn't that mean you'll, like, need it?" She asked, incredibly curious about the inner workings of SAMCRO.

Staring down her shirt, he said distractedly, "Yeah, well if you must know, I'm 3 months behind on my dues and my new president's giving me shit, so you gonna pawn it or what?" Elle nodded.

"Yeah, sure," she said, picking up the piece and examining it, "Um… this doesn't have any serial numbers on it."

"Yeah, I know that," he said exasperatedly.

"Well, I can't really take it if it doesn't have serial numbers on it," Elle said, "It's kind of against the law."

"Yeah, well I'm an outside – of – the – law kind of guy, sweetheart," he responded, "Perky always helps me out with those kinds of things. Half your back room is probably full of my shit."

"Man, we have the craziest stuff back three," she said, laughing, "Do you know, someone actually pawned a sex swing?"

"Oh yeah, I've been meaning to pick that up," Tig said thoughtfully, "You want to try it out?" he asked suggestively. Elle laughed nervously, not really sure if he was joking or not.

"Um, maybe another time," she said and Tig shrugged.

"Suit yourself," he said, "So you gonna pawn that thing for me or what?" Elle hesitated.

"Well, I guess if Perky- I mean, Bex, does it for you, than I can help you out," she said, searching the computer to find out how much it's worth.

Tig took his money and grinned at her, heading out the shop. He paused at the door and turned around.

"I'll be seeing you tonight, right?" he asked. Elle nodded.

"Yeah, definitely!" she replied enthusiastically, "I'll be there."

"Awesome," he responded as he pushed the door open, "Well, see you tonight, Snow White." Elle frowned. The nickname wasn't new to her. Her short black hair, heart shaped face, pale skin, and red lips had also earned her that nickname back in high school. She wasn't eager for a repeat.

"It's Elle!" she called back to him. He waved his hand in the air, already walking away.

"I told you, I'm bad with names!" he called over his shoulder as the door swung shut behind him.

A/N I went ahead and posted chapter 2 right away because I know chapter 1 is a lot of setting the story up. Please review!