A/N: So here's the chapter of how Chibs and Brooke meet... and those who meddle to make sure they meet again. I'll also put up pictures of Brooke, Taylor, and Haley in my profile for those of you who aren't on TN so you get the gist of what they look like.

Chapter 1- The Beginning

December 2nd to December 25th, 2007

Charming, CA

Brooke Monroe couldn't be happier. A lot of things were going well for her right now. She had just finished her latest book in a series she was writing, Fire Bug, about an arsonist terrorizing Boston, and had sent the manuscript to her publisher in San Francisco. Her new home, a lake house in an area the locals called The Streams, was finally fit for receiving company after three months of working on the place to take it from an abandoned lake house in the woods to a chic lake house in the woods. Ace, Cosmo, Titan, Sonny, Mini, and Savannah had all been fed and were happily running around the house, playing with Brooke and each other. Brooke had been going through the kitchen and checking the pantry when Titan jumped up and licked her face. The pit bull gazed up at her with adoring eyes as Brooke petted the happy dog.

"No, Titan, you have plenty of food… I'm the one with no food, I just got back from Thanksgiving with the family, boy," said Brooke.

She opened the fridge and looked inside before closing it again. She sat down and made a shopping list for the supermarket. As she did so, her eye caught the trophy sitting on the mantle above the fireplace – the trophy she had received for winning the 2007 Daytona 500 ten months ago. Pictures of her racing career, from quarter midgets at age 5 to NASCAR, Indy, Formula, Endurance, and Drag at 25 flanked the trophy, which was a form of recognition Brooke had worked her whole life to earn.

After Brooke finished her list she grabbed her purse, got into her Jeep Wrangler – which she loved without the roof and doors – and drove into town to the supermarket. When she got inside she grabbed a cart and started doing her shopping. Dressed in flip-flops, denim shorts, a rolling stones T-shirt, and wearing a huge pair of sunglasses, she knew she looked more SoCal than NoCal but didn't really care. If she had cared what people had thought about her she wouldn't be where she was today. As she got to the drinks aisle, someone getting out accidently bumped into her cart.

"Sorry," said a male voice.

"It's okay," said Brooke.

She walked around the other cart. The man pushing it was apparently a cop. She took her sunglasses off and clipped them on her shirt for a better look. He was older and losing his hair.

"Are you a local?" said the man.

"Yeah, I've lived here for three months now," said Brooke. "Haven't seen that many cops around my neck of the woods though. What's your name?"

"Wayne Unser, I'm the Chief of Police here in Charming," said Unser.

"I'm Brooke Monroe," said Brooke.

"Get out of here," said Unser. "Really? You're Brooke Monroe."

"I get that a lot," said Brooke.

"Can I have your autograph?" said Unser.

"Sure," said Brooke.

He held out his shopping list and she signed the blank side.

"So what do you think of Charming?" said Unser.

"Haven't had much time to really experience things… had to go into Lodi to get a lot of stuff for the lake house I bought. The real estate guy who sold it to me wasn't kidding when he said it was a fixer-upper," said Brooke. "It was in the Streams, for cheap – should've known with the price that it was gonna be hell, but the place looks great now."

"You have anyone around here to help you if you need anything?" said Unser.

"I have a couple old friends, their dads and mine served in Nam together, but one of them is in jail… I'm not really sure what for, the other one didn't tell me in the emails he sent," said Brooke.

"I might know them… who are they?" said Unser.

"Opie Winston and Jax Teller," said Brooke.

They parted ways soon after.

SOA

Right after he brought the groceries home, Unser went to the clubhouse to tell the Sons about Brooke.

"She bought that abandoned house in the streams… near your warehouse," said Unser.

"Jesus," said Clay. "What is she like? If someone's gonna live there, I need to know they won't be calling the cops."

"She's been there for three months, hasn't made a phone call to the station in that time period," said Unser. "She's from Boston, has the accent to prove it."

"Why would a woman from Boston come all the way out here?" said Bobby.

"It's Brooke, isn't it?" said Piney.

"Her name is Brooke, she did say she knew Jax," said Unser.

"I know who you're talking about," said Jax. "It's her, Piney."

"No kidding," said Gemma. "She's in town? Why didn't she come here?"

"She probably didn't know she could've," said Jax. "Besides, from what I hear she's a busy woman these days."

"Who?" said Chibs.

"C'mon, bro," said Jax.

"I'm coming too," said Piney.

The three of them rode into the streams. Jax spotted the house first.

"Guess she needed some quiet," said Jax.

Piney laughed.

"Who is she?" said Chibs.

"Her dad and a buddy of his served with my dad and Piney in Nam, they all kept in contact. Opie and I used to write Brooke all the time, then we emailed, but Opie's in jail so I don't think she's heard from him in a while," said Jax. "Haven't seen her since my dad's funeral. She was eleven at the time… she came with her dad, her mom stayed behind to take of her sister, Haley. I've never met Haley, but I think she'd be 15 by now."

"What does Brooke do?" said Chibs.

"We like bikes… she likes cars," said Piney. "Her dad, Keith, and his buddy Louie were the talk of the NASCAR world. Retired in 2000 along with Louie. Now Brooke is into the thick of it. NASCAR, Indy, Drag, Endurance, Formula… she's been racing since she was five and she's talented. You name it she's driving it or going to drive it. Keith sends me video tapes… the man thinks technology is his worst enemy which is why he didn't email anything to Juice."

The three of them laughed as they arrived at Brooke's house. Jax knocked on the door and heard dogs barking.

"Who is it?" said Brooke.

"Jax," said Jax.

Brooke calmed down her dogs and cat before opening the door. She saw Jax, Piney, and another biker who was very easy on the eyes. He had been wearing sunglasses but when he took them off she saw a pair of deep brown eyes she hoped she wouldn't drown in, at least not today.

"So you boys have the sheriff in your pocket?" said Brooke. "I'm not nosy, just smart."

"I know, but that's classified," said Jax.

Brooke laughed and Jax gave her a hug.

SOA

The four of them were still talking into the night. Brooke had found out that Jax had gotten married but had filed for divorce from his wife Wendy last month, Piney had the oxygen tank due to being diagnosed with emphysema two years ago, and Jax had introduced Brooke to Chibs, who had been born in Scotland, lived in Ireland for an undisclosed amount of time, and had been living in California and a member of the Sons since the late 1990s.

Jax stopped talking to Piney for a moment as he scratched Cosmo behind the ears, watching Chibs and Brooke interact with each other, the rest of the pets looking for the leftovers of the food Brooke had made after letting them in. Jax noticed that his two friends were having a good time.

"You're not serious!" said Piney.

"Yes I am," said Jax.

SOA

The next morning as Brooke fed her dogs and cat she heard the roar of a motorcycle. She wondered if it was Jax. Sure enough, when she got to the door it was.

"What are you doing here?" said Brooke.

"We're getting breakfast!" said Jax.

Brooke laughed and shook her head. She hadn't seen Jax since they had been very young, but he seemed to be the same in some ways. She got on the back of his bike and they were soon at Lumpy's, the town diner.

"Haven't been here before," said Brooke.

"You'll love the food," said Jax. "Best and only diner in town."

They took a seat at one of the booths. Brooke spared a glance at the menu as she and Jax talked about how their lives had been since she had last breezed into town.

"I heard you're doing really well," said Jax. "You've come a long way from racing quarter midgets and karts."

"Yes, I have," said Brooke.

"Piney won't change the channel when you're racing," said Jax. "It annoys everyone else."

They laughed as a waitress came to take their orders. Brooke noticed the waitress eyeing Jax like he was the best thing since sliced bread and giving Brooke mean looks. After the waitress took their orders, Jax went to use the restroom. The waitress was still glaring at Brooke.

"What's your problem?" said Brooke.

"Excuse me?" said the waitress.

"You heard me," said Brooke.

"You haven't even been here three months and you're his old lady?" said the waitress.

"And you seem to think you're entitled?" said Brooke.

"Yeah," said the waitress.

"Well, I don't know about a lady but you definitely look old to me," said Brooke.

"Good one," said Jax.

Embarrassed, the waitress took off.

"I forgot about that nasty wit of yours," said Jax.

"I can't stand people like that… sorry, did you know her?" said Brooke.

"Just a crow-eater," said Jax.

"Huh?" said Brooke.

"They eat crow," said Jax as he pointed to his crotch under the table.

"So they screw you hoping to become your girlfriend? Doesn't matter," said Brooke. "If it walks like a skank and dresses like a skank, it's still a skank no matter what you call it."

Brooke's comment made Jax think about Fiona and what the woman had done to Chibs all those years ago. Brooke was a far cry from the manipulative woman. She was still as funny and as kind as she had been fourteen years ago, which had been evident in their emails to each other over the years and despite her fame from racing she was still very humble.

"What else are you up to?" said Jax.

"Got a BA in Liberal Arts from Kaplan," said Brooke. "Online universities rule."

Jax laughed so hard the orange juice he ordered came out of his nose.

He had a plan, a plan he would have to keep quiet, but a good plan nonetheless. After Jax dropped Brooke back at her house, he dialed a number.

"Ma, it's me," said Jax. "Did you put Chibs on the schedule?"

"No, why?" said Gemma. "You planning on setting him up with Brooke?"

"No, we are," said Jax. "Tell him to ride up… she has some car trouble and can't even get it started."

"Car trouble… very original, Jax," said Gemma.

Smirking, he ended the call and drove away as it started to rain, knowing it would be storming by the time Chibs arrived.

SOA

Brooke went through her DVD collection until she found the DVD she wanted – Volcano.

"Who's up for L.A. experiencing a different kind of heat?" said Brooke.

The dogs yipped in enthusiasm and Savannah butted her head against Brooke's hand, wanting to be scratched behind the ears. Brooke happily obliged. Titan and Cosmo were playing, and Sonny kept stealing Ace's toys. Minnie rolled over on the floor, wanting her belly rubbed. Brooke leaned over and spoiled the dachshund rotten. She loved her pets. They were the ones she came home to after a long day at the race tracks. Ace began barking.

"I know, Sonny's acting like he's the biggest dog in the house," said Brooke.

She got up and chased after Ace, who had run to the door and let Sonny have his toy. Brooke noticed that Chibs was standing right outside, and Ace must've seen him. She opened the door and asked why he was there.

"Jax and Gemma said ya needed help with yer car," said Chibs.

"Come in, you're gonna get soaked," said Brooke. "My car is fine."

"Why tha hell did they blow smoke?" said Chibs.

Brooke began laughing.

"I don't believe this," said Brooke. "They pulled a Taylor."

"A what?" said Chibs.

"My best friend, Taylor Spencer… she was always trying to find some poor guy to set me up with," said Brooke.

Chibs had gotten a good look at Brooke last night – he wasn't sure why she was still single, she was sexy as hell.

"Why would ye need dat?" said Chibs. "I'm sure ye got plenty of helpless bastards on yer own."

Brooke laughed.

"Shit," said Brooke. "The rain's getting worse… I think he knew you'd be stuck here. I can't even get my own bike out when it's like this."

"Yer shittin' me! I'm gonna be stuck here?" said Chibs.

"Sorry," said Brooke.

"It's not yer fault," said Chibs. "Ye mind if I borrow some space in yer garage?"

"No, I don't mind," said Brooke.

She went into the garage and opened the door so Chibs could park his bike inside. He would've been shocked at the amount of space if he hadn't seen the Jeep, Harley Sportster, and ATV sitting inside. Brooke obviously needed all that space. There also appeared to be another car covered with a tarp, and a book resting nearby that was about restoring cars.

"I guess whoever owned this place didn't take their car with them," said Brooke. "No, really – I found it sitting in the woods, covered in dirt."

"What is it?" said Chibs.

"1967 Mustang convertible – I guess it was red at one point, and now that I got the house done this will be my new project," said Brooke. "Had to use my ATV to tow it into the garage, and I cleaned it up but I haven't had a chance to test the engine or repaint it."

"About last night… do ye really race? Seriously?" said Chibs.

"Seriously – c'mon," said Brooke.

They went back in the house, and got greeted by Savannah and the dogs. Cosmo jumped on Chibs and decided to drool slobber all over him.

"Oi! He's droolin' all over me!" said Chibs.

Brooke laughed and went into the bathroom to fetch a towel.

"They've taken to you pretty fast," said Brooke. "Normally they think they gotta protect me from everyone, even the mailman."

"I think they just want somethin' ta eat," said Chibs. "I used ta have a collie when I lived in Scotland, he was always wantin' ta eat somethin'."

"I just fed them a couple hours ago – they're bottomless pits, I swear," said Brooke.

Titan walked over with the DVD case in his mouth.

"I was gonna watch a movie with these guys when you pulled in," said Brooke.

The dogs and cat looked at Chibs, beckoning him to relax and BS some time in front of the TV – luckily, it turned out that despite her lack of a porn collection she had plenty of thrillers and action movies.

"What's that above yer fireplace?" said Chibs.

"Some photos of me with various cars I've driven, and my Daytona 500 trophy," said Brooke. "I won this year's race."

"Holy shite," said Chibs.

Brooke grinned and laughed. She couldn't help it. She had a sexy biker in her house and his accent was turning her into jelly.

"The rain is supposed to go all day," said Brooke.

"Mary mother of Christ," said Chibs.

Brooke popped Volcano in hoping it would distract her from the fact that Chibs was most likely annoyed with her as well as Jax. They sat on the couch, the dogs and cat on the floor.

"What's this supposed ta be about?" said Chibs.

"If I told you it'd ruin the movie for you," said Brooke.

They watched the beginning and talked a bit until the main character's daughter started being a typical teenaged smartass. Chibs wondered what Brooke found funny – Kerrianne would be fifteen by now, and he hadn't been able to be there for any of those moments because of Jimmy and Fiona.

"I have a youngeh sisteh, she's fifteen and a complete quack but I'd do anything for her," said Brooke. "I was ten when she was bohn so I've always been very protective of her."

"How long have ye lived in California?" said Chibs. "I noticed yer accent last night as well."

"Not even a year," said Brooke. "Do you like it here?"

"Aye," said Chibs. "You?"

"I haven't exactly been here three months… I had to have Taylor housesit while I was wrapping up the racing season," said Brooke. "I kept giving instructions over the phone. Trying to renovate a house when I wasn't there was a pain in the ass."

Chibs laughed. He vaguely wondered if being stuck here all day wouldn't be such a bad way to spend the day. It wasn't Friday. There wouldn't be a Church meeting unless there was an emergency. Given how mundane things had become since Darby's incarceration last year that possibility was highly unlikely.

"It turned out well," said Chibs. "How long ye been racin'?"

"Started in quarter-midgets at the age of five and I just kept going," said Brooke. "I've raced in various classes. I'd like to do as much as I can. I'm not sure what your opinion of cars is… I know Jax and Opie think they're cages."

Chibs had thought the same thing until last night. Hearing Brooke talk about them, he knew she felt the same way about them that he did about his bike, which was saying a lot because he didn't know her that well. He wanted to get to know her better, she seemed to be a good person from the interaction they'd had so far. Luckily for him, they were about to interact a lot more – Cosmo jumped on the couch and nudged Brooke right into Chibs' lap.

"Sorry," said Brooke.

Chibs didn't say anything – he kissed her instead. His first thought was that Brooke was a great kisser. His second was that she must be even better in bed.

"Where do ye wanna take this?" said Chibs.

"I don't have anything handy, do you?" said Brooke.

"Shite," said Chibs.

Brooke laughed. She couldn't help it.

They made out instead, and never saw the end of the movie.

Next chapter is also a flashback chapter. Review!