Chapter 1:

"Today I feel like laughing

Seems to be no reason at all

And if the world stops spinning

I'm not afraid to fall

Maybe it's too soon to be sure

But I really do believe that someday

We're gonna have it all

So I try too hard to keep the rhythm of a train

Rolling right along

When the ride gets rough you got to carry on"

-Jeremy Kay "Have It All"

Ava stood in the living room of the 2 story, open-plan home she had purchased. Just walking into the house, she and Dylan felt at home instantly. The precocious almost 4 year old girl, as she told everyone in the diner earlier that afternoon, had already made herself at home, dumping her coloring book and crayons on the floor of the empty living room. She lain on her belly coloring, her knees bent so her legs kicked slightly in the air behind her.

They were home. Ava hadn't felt this comfortable in any place since she left the home she grew up in 10 years prior. She had gone off to college and didn't need the house anymore after the passing of her parents. She sold the house and moved on with her life. It took many trials and heartaches for Ava to find herself in Charming, California. This was the fresh start that she needed.

Charming was close enough to San Francisco that Dylan would be able to see her dad more. That was a small part of the decision process when Ava decided it was time to buy a house and put down roots somewhere. Since her parents had died, she had been a rolling stone. She's transferred colleges 3 times before she finished her first degree in Culinary Arts. She'd met Dylan's dad when she started her MBA at UCLA. He was probably the only reason she had stayed there for the entirety of her coursework. She had gotten pregnant with Dylan mere months before she and Aaron had decided they weren't working as a couple. They were meant to be friends, nothing more. They had split amicably and decided to share custody of Dylan.

Ava and Dylan had moved to Phoenix, Arizona not long after she gave birth. Ava had taken a really good job, even though she didn't need to work. She and Dylan were set from her parents' accounts and insurance policies. But Ava wanted to feel independent. She wanted to have a steady routine and give Dylan a stable life.

Aaron and Dylan had a fantastic relationship. He was an amazing father, but the distance was getting harder. Dylan wanted to see him more, but Aaron's job didn't allow him to move. So Ava had decided to find a nice, small town to call home permanently. Charming sounded, well…charming. She thought it would be a nice little town to raise Dylan in. She could fulfill her dream of starting a Bakery. The best part was the location. Dylan would be much closer to Aaron.

Ava continued through the house once she realized Dylan was rooted to the living room floor coloring in her Jake and the Neverland Pirates coloring book. Ava ran her hand across the marble countertop of the kitchen island and brushed her fingertips across the bronzed antique-looking handles of the cabinets. The house was gorgeous. She could wrap her head around the kitchen. It was a new build, so the kitchen was brand new as well, but the décor was that of a rustic feel.

She stepped out of the kitchen area to the room just beneath the stairs. It was open and attached to the laundry area. It was perfect for a play area for Dylan. She could be cooking or doing laundry and still keep an eye on Dylan. She could imagine a small TV mounted to the wall, a toy box and cube organizer against the area beside the L-shaped staircase. There would still be room for a small table and chairs set.

Ava smiled at Dylan from the stairs and told her she was going to see her room. Dylan excitedly abandoned her coloring and Pirates to check out her new room. One of the main reasons she chose this particular house was the little girl's room that had been pre-planned into the build. Ava had called ahead to have Dylan's room ready before the arrival. It was an early birthday surprise. Ava opened the double doors to reveal Dylan's new room. Dylan squealed in excitement.

Built onto the far wall was a castle with a ladder circling up the side. Inside the castle was a playhouse, fit with a play kitchen and living room. The top of the castle was fitted with bookshelves and pillows for reading. The corner of the room had a metal filigree bedframe shaped like Cinderella's carriage. The walls were painted with a mural of a royal-like garden. She even had a small vanity that matched the bed. There was a pink and crystal chandelier hanging from the ceiling. The closet and bathroom that attached matched the castle theme of the rest of the room. Dylan couldn't decide where to play first. Her books, toys and clothes had already been delivered and set-up. She was content to spend the rest of the night playing in her room.

Ava's bedroom furniture had been delivered as well. They would go find the rest of the furniture the following day. She and Dylan were set and ready to rest for their first night in their new home.

Ava had finally managed to get Dylan to sleep around 11pm. She didn't usually allow her to stay up so late, but the little girl had been so excited and playing in her new room that she couldn't bring herself to make her stop so soon. She would let her sleep in a bit the next day.

Ava grabbed their bags from her black 2014 Mercedes-Benz GLK 350. She made sure to always have a newer dependable vehicle because of Dylan. She knew it was flashy, but the safety ratings were through the roof and that was what mattered to her.

As she made her way into the house, she noticed her only neighbor, across the street, with a few other men and women. The men had on leather vests with some picture and writing on the back. She checked out the neighborhood before buying the house. There was only one neighbor. He lived across the street and had no family. She wasn't given a name, but had heard that there had never been any problems in the neighborhood. She figured if he was dangerous, the realtor would have warned her.

She dropped their few bags in the empty living room, deciding the laundry and items could wait one night. She did, however, grab her book and a beer to read and drink in her bed. As she started up the stairs she heard the revving of bike engines across the street. She assumed they were just leaving and the noise would be over soon enough. She became angry when the revving and loud camaraderie lasted 20 minutes without seeming to come to any ending in the near future. Her daughter was upstairs sleeping and she was a mother bear ready to fight.

Ava flew out of the house, quietly closing the door. She hadn't even grabbed shoes or a sweater to shield her from the night air. She stomped across the yard and street in a pair of denim cut-off shorts that showcased her toned legs and a white fitted V-neck tee shirt that was half tucked into her shorts. Her silky brown hair flowed around her shoulders as the air rushed around her from her movements. As her bare feet landed on the concrete of the driveway, all eyes were on her flushed cheeks and lean body.

"Whose house is this?" She looked around at the faces before her. No one answered her, but a few took a step towards her and eyebrows quirked. Ava crossed her arms, "I got all night. Whose fucking house is this?"

A man with wild bedhead bond hair stepped forward. He had piercing blue eyes and tattoos across his arms. He looked unsure of how to react. "Kozik. Herman Kozik. S'my house."

Ava eyed him. "Williams. Ava Williams. That's my house." She pointed to the house behind her after copying his greeting. "Now no one told me that when I moved into that house, I would be listening to your bikes and loud ass mouths at 2 in the morning." She began raising her voice, "Now normally, I wouldn't give two shits, but I have a 3 year old sleeping over there. And I swear on all that is good in this world, if your little party wakes her up, I will burn all of your shit to the fucking ground." She cocked her eyebrow and eyed the rest of the crowd, "Have a nice night." She turned and walked away.

Gemma, who had been standing to the right of the scene next to Clay, smirked, "Bitch has got some balls. I like it."

Clay, Tig, Jax, Kozik, Juice, Bobby, Chibs and Opie gave her surprised looks. Tig was the only one to speak, however, "She wasn't even yelling at me…I'm gonna be walking funny for a week."

AN: This will definitely be a Kozik story. I usually write Happy stories, but I want to try something different this time. Hope you guys like it.