After we composed ourselves, my father lead me into the clubhouse. The strong smell of leather, beer, and weed hit me like a brick to the face. There was a familiarity to it that calmed my nerves and sparked something deep in my mind. I breathed deeply as a memory flashed quickly across my sight. I vaguely remembered giggling and chasing a blonde haired boy around the bar and out the doors into the parking lot. But as quickly as it hit me... it was gone.

The rest of the guys had shuffled into the clubhouse behind us. They moved off, giving us some much-needed space as my father lead me to a couch over in one corner. Two of the men sat at the bar, while some huddled around the pool table and a few leaned against a far wall to watch the match. I eased down onto the worn leather couch as my dad sat a comfortable distance away on the other end. He leaned back into the corner, his one arm laid across the back towards me, the other propped on the arm of the couch, his hand fiddling with his mustache.

"You want a drink?" He asked, his voice still betraying him slightly from his earlier emotions.

I smiled over to him, "A beer sounds great right about now."

He smirked. "I bet." He turned his head towards the bar, clearing his throat. "Sack!" His voice now recovered completely as he barked across the room. The scruffy haired kid that had helped me this morning at the garage, Kip if I remembered correctly, snapped his attention to us from behind the bar. "Couple beers." My father motioned with his hand and Kip nodded and quickly moved to the coolers. In a matter of moments he had the tabs popped and bottles in our hands. "Keep watch and keep 'em comin', Prospect." Tig ordered.

"Sure," Kip gave me a small smile and nod before he headed back behind the bar.

We both took a few long drinks off of the beers before either of us spoke.

"I bet you have a lot of questions." He said quietly, his eyes gazing solemnly at the bottle in his hands.

"I don't know where to even start." I sighed lightly as I looked over to him. His eyes met mine, an understanding expression in them.

"What do you remember?" He asked as he leaned forward, resting his arms on his knees as he shifted slightly closer to me.

"Not a whole hell of a lot." I ran my hand through my hair as I glanced around the clubhouse. "But being here for the little bit that I have... some stuff is starting to come back to me."

He raised his eyebrows slightly. "Yeah?"

I shrugged. "Yeah. I vaguely recognize some faces, but it's mainly the voices that are starting to bring some stuff back."

"I'd like to think so. You and Jax used to tear this place up playing tag or Cops and Bikers." He smiled fondly as the memory played in his mind.

"Yes! That's it! We used to take turns running from each other." I laughed as the game clicked in my mind.

Juice stood leaning against the wall next to the church doors as he watched the pool game between Happy and Chibs. In all honesty, he wasn't paying attention to the game at all as he kept stealing glances across the room to Tig and Summer. Who would've thought Tig could have a daughter that looked like that. She was absolutely striking... her dark hair falling down around her shoulders... and those eyes...

"I need you to run her." Clay sidled up next to Juice, crossing his arms across his chest as he leaned against the wall.

Juice jumped slightly, straightening his shoulders and breaking his gaze from Summer. "Huh?"

Clay turned to glare at him. "Tig's girl. I need you to dig into her. I know she's family, but I need to know if there's anything that's going to bite us in the ass." He gave Juice a hard look. "I don't like surprises."

Juice nodded. "You got it." He pushed off the wall, downing the rest of his beer and setting it on the table next to him. He glanced back across the room as Summer's laughter lightly echoed over to him. The melody shot straight through him like lightning and he closed his eyes briefly. He shook his head to gather himself as he moved off toward his dorm.

Tig's chuckle died down and his face grew solemn as he fiddled with his beer. I felt the shift in the air and knew this was hard on both of us. I couldn't imagine what was going through his mind after having me land back on his doorstep after sixteen years. I upended the rest of my beer and turned to him when he spoke.

"I had just gotten out of jail." His eyes stared off, focused on the label on his beer. "Your mom and I got in a fight. Man, we fought like cats and dogs." He shook his head, his brow creasing as he leaned back onto the couch. "I didn't like the fact that she was always drunk and not taking care you right while I was inside." He glanced over to me. I waited, letting him speak his side. "She just took you and left."

Kip strode over with fresh beers and took the empty bottles, breaking my father's thoughts for a moment. Tig sighed and took a long gulp before continuing.

"I couldn't fight for custody. I wanted to. Believe me, baby. I wanted nothing more than to have you with me... but with my rap sheet." He shook his head, running a hand through his curls. "There was no way they'd grant it." He gazed over to me, heartbroken at the memories.

I held his gaze for a moment before taking a drink. "I get it." The look of relief that washed over his face warmed my heart. I smirked and lightly tapped his shoulder with my fist. "Apple didn't fall too far from the tree though."

His gaze narrowed as he gave me a questioning look.

I shrugged. "I did some time in juvie. Mom was always drinking. Usually passed out on the floor all day so I had free reign to do whatever I wanted. I boosted some cars with a small crew I was running with when I was 14. Me and two of the guys got caught. The one cop got handsy with me so I clocked him." I smiled as I brought my beer up to my lips.

He chuckled, reaching out and tapping my knee. "Little different than what I've been booked for, baby girl." His smile fell slightly as if wondering if I was going to inquire further into his past.

I shrugged. "I kinda guessed that."

He eyed me, holding my gaze.

"Dad, you're Sgt.-at-Arms of an MC." I motioned to his patch. "My one buddy when I was growing up, he and his older brother were in one outside of Amarillo. I hung out with them for quite a while."

His gaze hardened and I read the thought instantly.

I put my hands up in defense. "No, I wasn't a trick that they passed around. I didn't screw any of them. I just tended bar."

He relaxed and smirked slightly as I continued.

"They were mostly mules, but I know the kinda shit MC's run in behind the 'club' front. Just because I wasn't a trick or an old lady, doesn't mean I didn't have my eyes and ears open."

He placed his beer down on the table in front of us and leaned back into the corner of the couch, running a hand over his goatee, a torn look on his face. I put my hand up as he was about to speak.

"Hey, don't worry. I know the rules." I brought my beer up, tilting it towards him and smiled. "Don't ask questions, and when the cops come sniffing, you don't know anything."

A smile grew across his face. " 'At's my girl." He reached over and ruffled my hair.

It had been about a week since I'd landed back in Charming. I'd contacted Ricky and told him that he might as well put me out on a leave for a while. I filled him in on what transpired and he was beyond understanding. He had been a foster kid growing up so if anyone could sympathize with what I was going through, it was him. I gave him the location of the spare key for my house so he could keep watch on it until I got back. I'd have to go back at some point. Whether it be for good or to pack up everything and sell the house... that was yet to be determined. It was far too fresh being reunited with my father to tell what the future would hold.

I'd offered to help in the garage or clubhouse while I was staying in town. They had more than enough guys for the shop and Gemma jumped at the chance to get some assistance with the books. Having her first grandson born prematurely to an addict mother, her time was needed elsewhere. I gladly took some of the weight from her shoulders.

I sat at the desk in the garage when a female voice came from the doorway to the office, breaking my thoughts.

"Hey, sweetheart."

I looked up from the paperwork and smiled. "Hey, Gemma."

After laying eyes on her the night I came to the clubhouse, I'd remembered her immediately. She hadn't aged a day. Gemma had been like an aunt to me when I was younger and all the memories had come flooding back as she hugged me that night. I'd spent many days at her house playing with Jax as a kid while my mom was elsewhere. Probably on a bender.

"I was wondering." She stepped in and leaned a hip on the desk in front of me smiling. "I'm planning a dinner tonight at the house. Need to go pick up some things at the store. You wanna come? Catch up with your Auntie Gem?"

I set the pile of papers down and cocked my head up to her. "Sure! But what about all this?" I said motioning my hands to the desk.

She wrinkled her nose. "Eh, it can wait until tomorrow." She smiled and waved her perfectly manicured hand dismissively at the desk. "I'll meet ya in the car."

The short car ride to the market was filled with laughter, cigarettes, and memories. Gemma shared stories of me and Jax getting into trouble and tearing up her house. It was surreal how easily memories came back to me while being around her.

Once in the store, Gemma gave me a specific list and we went our separate ways, meeting up at the front once we'd retrieved everything.

As she settled the bill, I gathered an armful of bags and turned to her. "I'll go start getting these in the car."

"Sure, baby." She smiled over to me as she handed the cashier her credit card.

I'd strode across the lot and had just popped the trunk of her Cadillac when a male voice spoke behind me.

"You're a new face."

I jumped and turned to see the source.

Sheriff.

"Sorry. Didn't mean to startle you." The man smiled. "I'm Deputy Hale." He held out his hand to me.

I placed the bags in the trunk before turning and shaking his hand. "Summer."

His eyes wandered quickly over me before he recovered and looked me in the eye, his smile disappearing into a thin line.

"I saw you walk in with Gemma. Haven't seen you before so thought I'd chat for a bit."

I raised my eyebrows at him. "About what?"

He cleared his throat and glanced toward the entrance of the market as he placed his hands on his duty belt. "Just a word of warning. Pretty girls tend not to survive long with Samcro. Most of them, Gemma especially, are out for their own interests. I wouldn't trust them if I were you. I'd get out before you become another casualty."

I pursed my lips and smirked over at him. "Well... I appreciate the concern, Deputy, but I'll be just fine. Thanks." I plastered an innocent smile on as Gemma pushed her cart up to us.

She smiled over to him. "Hale."

"Gemma." He nodded to her before looking over to me and moving back to his truck. "You two ladies have a good day."

Gemma turned to me as we began loading the rest of the groceries into the car. "What did he want?"

"Oh, you know. Just checking out my rack and offering the 'concerned for my safety' card." My voice dripping sarcasm as I glanced sideways at her.

She stood up straight, her hand up on the raised trunk lid, the other on her hip. "Don't trust him."

I faced her, putting a hand to my chin, feigning contemplation. "Funny, that's exactly what he said about you." I couldn't hold my face and snorted out a giggle. "He has no idea who I am."

Gemma chuckled and ticked her tongue, draping her arm around my shoulders as we watched him pull out across the lot. "No, he most certainly does not." She gave me a slight shake before releasing me. "Come on, we got cookin' to do."

The Morrow household was soon full of bodies. The girls were all in the kitchen getting the final touches ready while the guys gathered around the long table. Before long everyone was sat down and diving in.

I enjoyed the happy banter between them before I was brought into the mix.

"Oy!" Chibs banged his palm on the table and everyone quieted, turning their attention to him. He turned, smiling across to me. "It's good tae have ye back, Summer."

The Scotsman, who once hearing his voice and getting his signature hug a few days ago, I'd remembered was one of the men I'd been closest to growing up. I couldn't believe that I'd all but forgotten him and his Glasgow smile.

"We've all missed ye. Even though it's been so long and ye were just a lil shite..." He beamed at me across the table and sighed. "It's damn good that yer back, lass. I've never seen Tiggy happier." He raised his glass up over the table.

I turned and met my father's smile next to me, nudging him with my shoulder as I raised my glass to meet Chibs'. "I'm glad to be back. I've got a lot of hell raisin' to catch up on." I caught Jax's smile and nod from down the table as he grinned and laughed.

"Hell yeah!" Jax held his beer in the air.

Everyone clinked their drinks and erupted in laughter and smiles as the dinner continued.

I gazed around at the table for a few moments. Everyone laughing, joking and carrying on. All the memories were coming back to me, as much as they could from so many years ago.

It was then that I realized that I'd finally found what I didn't even know I was searching for. These men weren't my blood... but they were my family.

They were my home.

And I'd be damned if I'd let them go.