The dinner proved to be a lot less stressful than Jensen had imagined it. Everyone seemed relaxed, even Clay seemed to mildly tolerate her family. It helped that she had consumed nearly an entire bottle of wine as she sat next to Jax.

"Jensen, tell them all the languages you speak." Liam hollered from down the table. "He won't believe me." Liam pointed at an old man hooked up to oxygen; Jensen thought she remembered his name was Piney. "Says there is no way one person can know that many languages."

Jensen wiped at her face with her napkin and smiled.

"I speak nine languages, ten if you count Gaelic, which most people don't because no one speaks it. It's part of how I got all the random jobs on the road. It's a gift. Don't worry most people don't believe I can do it either."

"How did it get you a job?"

"Are you kidding? Once you start speaking someone's native language they start thinking of you as family. They are more willing to do what you ask." Jensen laughed.

"Prove it!" Tig called from opposite Russell.

"And just how do you suggest I do that? Do you speak another language? I could be telling you to kiss a monkey's ass, and you wouldn't know it, or I could be making up sounds and you still wouldn't know it." Just for the hell of it she decided to throw out a couple languages. Insults in five different languages went flying across the table aimed mostly at Tig.

"So what did you say?" Tig was still grinning. Clearly he hadn't picked up on her tone.

"Nothing good brotha'." Chibs shook his head. "You don't have to understand wha' she said to understand that."

"I suggested you have had an inappropriate relationship with your mother, more than once." Jensen stated unblinkingly. "In five different languages." She smiled as she looked down at her now empty plate. "Goodness, Gemma, that really was an excellent dinner."

"Jen, we gotta get Leo home." Liam interrupted. "He's passed out on the couch." He jerked his finger back into the living room.

"All right, load him into my car. Cate can dive."

"Why can't I drive?" Russell asked looking indignant.

"January 20th 2012." Jensen rattled off the date without pausing. "I get a call that you have been in an accident and I think your dead. So no, you don't have my approval to drive, Cate does. Did you get some beds for us today?" Her questioning turned to Liam again; he was over at the couch trying to pick Leo up without waking him.

"Yeah, Leo got a race car bed." Liam grunted as he heaved Leo over his shoulder.

"Vroom, vroom, motherfucker." Jensen giggled and turned her head to rest on Jax's shoulder. "Did you hear that? I have a bed." She stage whispered to him as her foot dragged up his leg. "What do you say we go try it out?" This time her whisper was slightly better and only half of the table heard her.

Because of the amount of alcohol she had imbued Jensen found she really didn't care that Jax's mother was in hearing range.

"No, we have a family meeting." Liam called as he made his way back through the kitchen from the car. "Cash and stories to go around, right?" That was exactly what she had promised Russell and they caused her to scowl.

"The oldest is supposed to call those meetings, it's the rules." She huffed as she stood up and gathered several plates that had been tossed in the centre of the table.

"You make up the rules! Did someone leave you like a manifesto or something?" Liam rolled his eyes. "Are you coming? Or are you getting a ride from someone else." He looked pointedly at Jax.

"You guys go. I'll see you back at the house, I'm gonna help with these dishes." She beckoned him closer. "Drive safe okay?" She planted a quick kiss on his cheek. "And really don't let Russell drive."

He nodded and gave her hand a small, encouraging pat before walking out with a few goodbyes and thanks.

"Don't worry about those, hun, I'll get them in the morning." Gemma waved off Jensen's work.

"Are you sure?" She asked, stumbling slightly as she tried to walk around her own chair. "I don't mind." Jensen's words followed her as she walked into the kitchen but she stopped there. "Crap, maybe I do mind." She muttered as she looked around.

Jensen had grown so used to living alone that she had forgotten what a mess could be created when feeding large amounts of people. Dishes stacked up in the sink, pots and pans lay with food in them on the stove.

"I told you it was fine. I'll clean up in the morning." Gemma rounded the corner as Jensen placed her stack of dishes on the island.

"Nonsense. I said I would help and I'm going to." Jensen started rolling up her sleeves. "Besides, it will give me a chance to get back in the swing of things with my family."

"Are you glad they are back?" Gemma asked as she picked up a cloth to start drying the items Jensen placed in front of her.

"Of course I am. I missed them a lot."

"But?"

"It's just that, I'm too young to be a mom. I'm too young to be a mother to teenagers. I love Cate and I would do anything to protect her, but I don't know what I'm doing here. I never had to deal with the same issues with Liam. Russell likes to keep his head down most of the time, but Cate." She paused not knowing how to describe her sister. "I'm just trying to do everything in my power to make sure she, and everyone else, makes it to heaven even if that means condemning myself to hell."

"You're a believer then?" Gemma's tone told Jensen that Gemma was not in fact a believer.

"I don't believe there's a God out there that minds if I curse or have premarital sex, but yeah I think there is a God that judges good and evil and I know for a fact that there isn't a God that would judge my actions as good." Jensen declared after a moment. "Especially after my actions today."

"What did you do?"

"Do you really want to know?" Jensen looked over, trying to gauge if Gemma really wanted to make herself an accomplice to her murder.

"I can take it." Gemma stopped drying and placed her hand on her hip looking expectant.

"My brother took Cate to some seedy bar and she got a ride home with a man that beat and raped her. I found him and tortured him and that killed him. She's thirteen and I know what's going through her head right now and I have to be strong for her."

"But he's dead now?"

"Deader than a doornail." Jensen assured her. "It's not the first time I had to do something like that and I am certain it won't be the last, but I hate that I had to do it for her." She looked at the now empty sink and started bringing pans over.

"All the more reason to enjoy the life you have." Gemma shrugged.

"Oh I do," Jensen smirked as she thought about Jax. "It's just days like today, I remember I haven't been to church in a while." She finished the last pan and smiled as the work was done. "I'll see you tomorrow." She walked back into the dining room and wrapped her arms around a still seated Jax. "Care to take a girl home?" She whispered in his ear.

"What about your family meeting?" He turned slightly to get a better view of her.

"Well that I don't think I can get you in. Strict rule, O'Halloran's only. But I bet I could keep you in my room and then when I was done I can have my wicked way with you." She smiled at her own joke.

"In that case, let's go." He rose from his chair while draining his beer. "Alright fella's, I gotta get a move on my services are needed." Jensen rolled her eyes at the other's laughter but grabbed for Jax's hand and led him out the door with a few smiles.

"Wait a second." Gemma called from the kitchen. She walked forward and, rather awkwardly, embraced Jensen for a second. She pulled away and Jensen had to hide the confusion she was sure was etched all over her face. Her calm façade was completely destroyed when Gemma leaned in and placed a kiss on her cheek, similar to how she had with Liam. "Thanks for coming." She smiled before moving over to give Jax a kiss goodbye.

They walked out of the house a moment later. Jensen still had a look of confusion plastered on her face.

"I like your family, they seem to be on the same wavelength as mine, but that was really strange." Jensen shook her head slowly.

"She's accepting you. That's a fair bit better than she could have done." Jax laughed as he led her to his bike.

"Do all mothers do that?"

"Does yours?"

"My mother has certainly kissed my boyfriends before but never on the cheek and the only acceptance she was making was the one into her bedroom." Jensen slung her leg over the bike and shimmied a little, trying to get comfortable. "Take me home." She whispered with a lopsided grin as she thought about her previous rides on Jax's bike.

As they pulled up to her house she could hear an argument going on in full swing. Jensen walked into the living room and could feel Jax right behind her. Before she could comprehend what was happening she felt a strong weight barrel into her side and knock her to her feet. Jensen looked around and saw Liam hop up as if nothing had happened. She grabbed for Jax's hand as he helped pull her up.

"Alright that's enough!" Jensen bellowed. "Everyone to their corners! NOW!" Her tone made it clear she wasn't to be fooled with. Russell and Cate were on one side while Liam, sporting a fresh bruise was on the other. "Now someone tell me what the fuck happened here!" She demanded her gaze flitting from Cate to Russell and finally to Liam.

"That money is half mine! I earned it." Cate yelled, as her scowl remained focused on Liam.

"You didn't earn anything! You drank too much and left with some stranger twice your age." Liam bit back. "Your lucky I don't kick you out! And you," his gaze turned to Russell. "How dare you hit me?"

Jensen stomped her foot as she moved in between them. She wanted to throw a punch at Liam for saying those things after what Cate had been through but had to remind herself that he didn't know, that he would hopefully never need to know.

"I have heard enough of this." Her voice became calmer but her eyes still commanded everyone's attention. "Cate, the money's not half yours. You botched the job, and I don't want to hear about this earning crap. I used to do what you did last night, and I did it without ruining the whole thing, but I never kept all the earnings. They go in the vault and we divide them evenly. Russell, if you ever lay a finger on any member of this family again I will break your hand. Understood?" She saw Russell nod reluctantly. "Liam, we do not talk about kicking family out." She walked towards him slowly. "This is family! This is blood!" Without thinking she raised her hand and backhanded him. "You turn your back on family and you are as good as dead. This isn't some rec club! You don't get to choose whose a member! I have never been more disgusted with all of you."

Jensen walked over to the closet she had seen her brothers put the lock box and fumbled with the key on her key ring. Once she opened the box she it's contents and spilled it onto the table before adding the cash from her first week and the remainder of her savings.

"Does anyone else have anything to add? Cough it up now." She waited as Liam added a thick envelope of cash to the pile. She threw a pointed look at Cate who placed a small stack of twenties on the table. "Russell?" Jensen cocked an eyebrow.

"Nothing this week." He shrugged before turning out his pockets.

Jensen nodded as she sat down and started counting. She set aside the money they would need to pay the bills this month and divided the rest up into four groups.

"Alright I need plans for the week." She demanded as she watched her family sit down at the table with her.

"What about him?" Liam nodded over at Jax.

"Jax, we are potentially going to talk about illegal ways to earn money. If the cops catch wind of anything we will know whom to blame. Would you like to stay in the room?" Jensen asked as sweetly as she could muster.

Jax looked to think about it for a minute before nodding his head and sitting down in the seat closest to her.

"Sure." He leaned back and looked around appraisingly.

"Fine. I'm going to head out to Oakland tomorrow and try to make some connections. I'm going to need the car. I'm also going to need you on call for translations." He massaged the bruise as he spoke.

"You got it." Jensen handed him a portion of the cash she had laid out for him. "That should be enough for food and gas for the week. You don't want to be walking around with too much cash." Liam nodded as he counted the money. Jensen's gaze turned to Cate.

"I'm planning another ATM deal." Russell cut in before Jensen could demand Cate to stay home. "Just the usual and that way I can be close if Liam gets a call." He shrugged.

No one was entirely sure how Liam's ATM deals worked but he came home with well over the max limit for a few days. Jensen nodded slowly. Usually it would take about two days before police would start to notice, longer if it was a bigger city, and he would have to lay low for a few weeks before starting up again.

"Just remember to keep your head down. It's risky." She warned as she handed him some cash.

"Less risky than your job." Liam rolled his eyes.

"Excuse me? What is that supposed to mean?" She snapped. "I am gainfully employed and it's the only thing making us seem remotely less criminal."

"It means that you start running around with America's Most Wanted over there and suddenly the cops are on us like molasses on toast." He gestured wildly at Jax.

"Hey, if you've got a problem with my love life just say so!"

"If you think I give a flying fuck who you've decide to shack up with, then you really don't know me. All I'm asking is that you keep a low profile." Liam threw his hands by his side as if that were nothing.

"I'm sorry, you would like me to step into the closet?" Jensen laughed as a way to cover just how offended she really was.

"Yeah and take your biker boy toy with you." Liam spat.

"That's enough! I get that you are mad at me for leaving. I know I can't make up for the years I missed. But if you are going to keep questioning my authority you won't be invited to the family meetings. I left you in charge because I thought you could handle it! I thought you were more mature than this!"

"I was sixteen years old! I did the best I could, this is the result of my leadership." He jabbed his finger down on the table as he stood up. "You have been gone for four years! What gives you the right to come back and suddenly call all the shots?"

"Th-the right?" Jensen's brow furrowed but she remained seated. "This is my family, I raised you. I went without so that you could get what you need. You! This family is the first thing I think about when I wake up in the morning and the last thing I think about before I go to bed. I do things for this family that I can't stand to say out loud and you question my right? My responsibility to this family is everything. I have killed for this family and you! You question me!" She yelled, rising to her feet as Liam shrank back into his seat. "What sort of protection are you taking with you?" Jensen's voice softened as she sat back down and looked over at Russell.

"Just the usual." He shrugged, eyes still wide from her outburst. He pulled out a ten-inch skinny blade with a serrated edge towards the hilt.

"That's it?" Jensen asked after picking it up and twirling it around in her hand for a moment, ignoring the sting of her ripped stitches. "A pig sticker?" She barely hid the snort.

"It's better than that cannon you keep under your belt." He laughed as she mocked offense. "Seriously, I'm ripping off ATMs I don't need to worry that much."

"Alright. Cate will stay here and watch Leo and Hank " Jensen declared with a final nod.

"Wait no! I had plans! I was -" She stopped as she saw Jensen's face. "Never mind, I'll watch Leo." Her hands dropped in her lap.

"Great that means you are on meals this week." Jensen smiled as she handed over a larger stack of money. "Mac and cheese and fish sticks only count as a meal twice. I'll be home by seven, Russell, try to make it home by then. Liam, you're a big boy, if you want to come home for dinner be here by seven." Her words were cold as she turned to him. "I think that's it then, unless anyone has anything they need to tell the family."

"What about you?" Russell asked finally just as Jensen thought she was home free. "Why were you late?"

She couldn't suppress the groan in brought to her lips. Just thinking about what she did was hard enough. Usually she would be the first to argue that honesty was the best policy but in this case she felt that she could make an exception.

"You guys remember that man, Tom? He showed more than a healthy interest in Cate?" She paused looking at their nods. "Cate told me that he was the one that gave her a ride home. I went to talk to him, remind him to stay away from thirteen-year-old girls. I convinced him that it would be in his best interest to leave town for a while. We won't see him again."

"Should we be expecting a call from the cops soon?" Liam asked with slightly more respect than he had shown earlier.

"It's never out of the question with our family." Jensen tried to smooth talk her way out of the conversation. "Especially after our stunt with the Italian sports car and our past. I'd say were due for a visit but I would doubt anyone's getting arrested." She shrugged as she placed the remainder of the cash in the lockbox and closed the lid. "I'm going to go to bed."

Jensen stood up and grabbed Jax's hand. She led him into her room and pushed hard enough for him to get the idea and sit back on the bed. This time she didn't dawdle as she pulled off her shirt before almost attacking him, her legs straddling his lap. Their kisses became heated and sloppy as Jensen tugged on Jax's clothing.

"What I'm about to do," She paused to pull his shirt over his head. "It's very selfish." She knelt in between his legs and undid his belt buckle. "I'm going to take, and really I'm not going to care about giving back." Her voice was no louder than a whisper. "After the day I've had, this isn't about you. This is the one thing I'm taking as mine." She reached her hand into his boxers and tugged on him firmly, pleased by his reaction.

Jensen practically tore off her pants as she stood up. She pushed Jax further onto the bed and crawled onto of him. His hands had moved up to cup at her still restrained chest but she pushed his arms up over his head.

"Be a good boy." She smiled as her hands released her bra and she flung it over into the corner. She could hear his grunt as she moved her hips in small circles pressing herself into him, teasing slightly with every intention of following through. "In theory." She started as her hands started moving up her own body, resting on her breasts and palming them slightly. "I could do this without you." She moved her hips as she continued tracing patterns around the sensitive flesh around her nipples with both hands. "In fact," she paused, watching his eyes as one of her hands left her chest and made a path down her stomach stopping only just when she felt the lace of her panties. "I might." Her fingers dipped below her panty line and she let out a low moan.

"I think we have a few things we need to learn about each other." Jax muttered, his hands reaching up and grabbing Jensen's hands. "First, I'm not a good boy." He whispered with a half smirk before flipping their positions so now he was on top. "Second, you can't imagine the things I can do to you."

"Do it then." Jensen demanded as she pulled her head away from the unmade bed, she caught her lips with his.

He broke the kiss off suddenly as his hands flipped her over roughly. Jensen barely had time to put her arms out in front of her to support herself. Jax's hands were at her hips, pushing her legs apart slightly. Without warning he slammed into her, causing her to let out a yell of surprise. Under any other circumstance Jensen would have been insulted by his speed, but now it was just what she needed. She pushed back on him, wordlessly demanding he either pick up the pace or let her fingers do the work he can't.

"Jesus Christ!" she muttered as she threw her head back. She felt one of his hands snaking along her hip and down her inner thigh. She shook her head briefly and tore his hand away before placing it back on her hip. "Focus on what you're doing there, Knucklebones." She replaced his hand with her own.

It was a matter of minutes before she felt the coil in her stomach tighten.

"A little bit more, just a little bit more." She repeated mostly to herself, over and over again until there was no more needed. Her arms turned to jelly and her head slumped onto a pile of blankets someone had thrown on the bed earlier. Her whole body would have collapsed if Jax hadn't been holding onto her hips, still thrusting into her before finding his release as well.

Jax collapsed beside her breathing hard and she turned around to face him. It took all the strength she could muster to lift her hand high enough to run along his chest. She pressed several warm kisses onto his collarbone.

"I'm not usually the type to give a lot of complements but that was the best I have had in a long time." Jensen finally declared, letting out a long sigh of contentment.

"We did that one pretty well." Jax agreed as he slung his arm over her head.

"Tom." Jensen finally whispered still looking at Jax's chest. "His – its – name was Tom and I tortured him and I killed him and I buried the body." She stopped to look Jax in the face. "And I don't feel sorry about it at all. I've thought about it a lot. I thought I would cry or feel guilty at the very least, but I don't." She made perfect eye contact with Jax as she said it. "Does that make you think I sound like a danger to you or anyone else?"

"No." Clearly that was the end of his thoughts.

"You aren't much of a talker are you?" Jensen laughed as she finally found the energy to push herself off the bed and search around in the small plastic bag she had gotten from the market for her cigarettes.

"Not much good comes from it." He smirked, propping himself up in his elbow to watch her. He accepted the cigarette she offered him. "Most people don't want to know too much about me. I'm trouble."

"Jax, I am trouble. You are something else entirely. Don't get me wrong it turns me on more that I would call healthy," She flicked the lighter before tossing it over to Jax. "The thrill that the cops could come after us at any moment." She took a puff of her cigarette as she wandered around the room looking for something to do. She was aware she was still naked but couldn't be bothered to put clothes on, especially because she was still rooting for round two. "There is something so powerful about watching the light flicker out of someone's eyes, knowing that it was because of you. I would say there is no greater feeling in the whole world but after what we did," She smiled and let her sentence drop. She casually opened her window and flicked her half smoked cigarette out onto the pavement. "Some day I'm going to ask for the truth, about what you do, about the club. Not now, but soon, I'm gonna need an explanation for my family. Liam's an asshole but he's not wrong, and I don't like lies."

"You lied to your family just now." He reminded her.

"Out of necessity. Most of my family has never killed. Liam is the only one and that was only ever in those stupid fights, self defense really. He never sought anyone out to kill them. Don't dodge my questions."

"You really want to know?"

"I can't see any reason not to tell me. After everything I've done it should have proved to you that I'm on your side. If not, well, you know enough to make me completely useless to a cop." She shrugged as she moved back to the bed, making herself comfortable around him. "Go on, tell me." She encouraged.

"So I can see you run off screaming?"

"Do I look like the type to run off screaming? Honestly I'm a little offended. The only way I plan to be screaming is on this bed, and I can pretty much guarantee I'm not going to be running." She saw his smile as she winked suggestively and pressed her body closer to his.

"Maybe later, after I've heard you scream a little."