The ride to Redwoody as Jax called it, was uneventful. Arianne was in a familiar place in a different time. She remembered how the two of them would take late night rides to the middle of nowhere and literally make love under the stars. The roar of his bike drowned out the furious beating of her heart as she held onto Jax.

Redwoody turned out to be a warehouse, turned porn palace, in the Stockton Port. It was dimly lit on the outside, but Ari could hear the laughter of women and music booming inside. Jax pulled up to the entrance to drop her off, but she waited til he was by her side before stepping through the doors.

The level of debauchery happening around them was enough to get Ari to turn around and try to walk out. But it was too late. The Sons of Anarchy, along with their guests, saw Jax and Ari and all of a sudden, a cheer erupted throughout the crowd. Ari tried to cover her face, but Jax stopped her.

"Keep your head babe, we're here on business," he said into her ear. He held her chin and turned her face towards the corner of the warehouse. She saw Henry Lin chatting with Chibs. She swatted his hand off and looked around the room. Ari saw members of the Triads and Mayans mingling with their girls. "I'll see you later," Jax said and he stalked off to meet with Lin.

Ari stood frozen like a deer in headlights. She wanted out. It was way too loud and getting drunk in front of strangers was never her thing. Thankfully her phone started to vibrate and she tried her best not to hightail it out of the warehouse.

Once outside, she slid her fingers through the screen of her iPhone and accepted the call.

"Hey Arianne," whispered the voice on the other line. She thought she couldn't handle any more surprises, but that went to shit the moment she let Jax into her home.

"You are so fucking dumb, you know that?" she shouted. Her heart wanted to explode. Juice loved her in ways she couldn't return. He would say he was what she needed but not what she wanted. And Jax banked on that truth. Juice's death would fall entirely on her hands.

She heard him chuckle sadly. "Yah, I've been told. I wouldn't be in this situation if I wasn't. A little bird told me you were home and I just wanted to hear your voice."

"Oh God Juice... We can't do this. Whatever you have done to earn meeting the Reaper, I don't care. Just run. I am begging you, the next time I see you will be the last..." Ari tried to choke down a sob. "Please?!" she pleaded.

"I'm sorry Ari," he whispered. "I love you...ok?"

She remained silent. Ari could never say those words back to him. She replied with "I'm sorry too, Juice" and hung up the phone.

Ari trudged her way back into the warehouse and went straight to the bar. Lyla was there tending drinks and her eyes lit up when she saw Arianne. "The usual?" She asked.

Ari forced a smile. "Yes please.. Make that a double." She watched as Lyla expertly mixed her drink and served it to her with a cherry on top.

"Hey Ari, I just want you know that I am so sorry about giving Jax your address. I know you wanted to stay under the radar but well, we're talking about Jax here." Ari took a sip of her cocktail and waved her off.

"Yah yah Jax... Believe me, I know. Don't worry about it, k?" She assured her friend. "It's nice to be home. I forgot what it's like to be surrounded by family." Ari admitted.

Their bonding time was cut short by some drunk asshole calling for Lyla. She groaned. "You gonna be ok sitting here? I have to take care of the others." Ari nodded. Lyla waved apologetically and disappeared into the crowd.

Ari stayed seated on the bar stool and decided to people watch. Every now and again, a random club member would notice her presence, make small talk, and then proceed to whatever distraction she had distracted them from. She eyed the corner of the warehouse every now and again for Jax. Her anxiety grew despite of her efforts to counteract it with the drink Lyla had made.

She turned her chair to request another drink from the girl working the bar when she noticed Gemma. Her mother was talking to a Triad kid who sat alone, stoic, yet fully aware at the other end of the counter. She looked like she was trying to peer pressure the kid into letting loose for the night. But he was diligent and was not having it.

"I wonder what kind of wisdom she bestowed on him?" She thought. Her eyes followed Gemma as she walked away and saw that she wasn't the only one watching. Jax met her gaze as his mother reached him. He asked her something and she nodded in reply. Jax then spoke to the black guy next to him wearing a Grim Bastards cut. The guy's face had a look of disbelief as they both glanced at the Triad kid. Gemma looked like she was about to burst into tears. Ari continued to watch but there wasn't much left to see as the man shook hands with Jax and exited the building. Mother kissed her son on the cheek and left not long after. Jax met her gaze again, this time with eyes filled with rage.

Tig interrupted her thoughts when he waved his hands in front of her face and said, "Earth to Aria... Earth to Aria..." Tig Trager would forever be the creepy uncle you kept away from young kids. "What's up kid? Aren't you supposed to be the life of the party? Join the girls..."

"Number one, it's Ari not Aria... And number two, I am the exact opposite of every woman in this room," she retorted. The girl who made her drink slammed the glass onto the counter and stalked off. Ari gulped down what little alcohol stayed put and asked, "When are we leaving?"

"Beats me kid. But if I were you, and now don't take this the wrong way..." he paused. "Ari, you're a bit uptight right now. Loosen up, darling. I really think you should take your ass to the stripper pole and enjoy yourself," Tig walked away laughing as he searched for some shallow head who would be able to put up with his eccentricities.

"Oh my God, where is Lyla?!," she thought frantically as she scanned the room for her friend. "I need to find someone with some brain cells to keep me from going insane." Then lo and behold, her prayers were somewhat answered when Jax finally reappeared.

"Let's go," He grabbed hold of her hand as he led Ari through the myriad of drunks in their midst. She was almost jogging to keep up. As the crowd parted, she noticed the rest of the guys start to file in as well. First Happy, then Tig, then Chibs, and finally Bobby.

When they stepped out into the cool air, Bobby walked up to Ari and wrapped her in a warm bear hug. Jax didn't stop with the rest of the guys to acknowledge Arianne's return. If anything he was impatient with them. Bobby called out, "Jax are you serious?" He had a look of concern plastered on his mug. They all did, now that she thought about it.

"I need her there. We gotta go, NOW! T.O. came through," Jax insisted.

Chibs clasped her on the shoulder and pulled her to him. "Kid. Brace yourself." He kissed the top of her head.