Morning came all too soon for Tig who woke up sprawled out on Charlotte's bed. For a second when he looked her body over in the faint morning light being filtered through her curtains he forgot what day it was and what he had to do. When he remembered, all he wished for was to have the night back to sleep some more.

"C'mon babe." he croaked, nudging her awake. "You gotta go to work."

"Mmm?" Charlotte grunted, confused in her early morning stupor.

He chuckled and said, "Yeah, what you said."

They dressed in silence: Tig contemplating what the day could hold for him and Charlotte too sore and tired to form complete sentences. As they descended the steps, Tig in front of Charlotte, she grabbed his shoulders and squeezed them supportively. Once in the living room he waited with his hand on the doorknob while she collected her purse and briefcase ready to open it for her when she was ready.

"Hey Charlotte?" he said abruptly before they parted in the driveway, "I don't know what Clay's plan is for today. If it's...if...can I call you?"

"Of course." she said, kissing him softly, not needing to stand on her toes because she was wearing heels for work. "Call me whenever you need me." He kissed her back and rubbed her hand on the small of her back underneath the coral blazer she was wearing over a black dress with white piping.

After she watched him pull out her driveway she leaned her head on her steering wheel and found herself saying a silent prayer before starting her car and driving to work.

The first call of the day came from Gemma who was excitedly inviting Charlotte to come welcome her grandson, Abel, home tonight. Thrilled to have such a happy distraction Charlotte gladly said she'd be there and volunteered to bring a crudite. Many hours later Charlotte began packing up to go back home when Tig finally called her.

"I couldn't do it." he hissed nervously

"Okay" she said, packing her bag more quickly. On the other end of the phone she heard a loud noise that was Tig punching a hole in his wall. "Okay, okay." she said more frantically "I'm leaving work now."

"Okay" he said and hung up.

When she walked into the clubhouse an hour and a half later she walked up to where Tig was talking to Bobby.

"Oh!" Bobby said looking at her in her professional wear "Hot for Teacher!"

Charlotte rolled her eyes at him then shot him a piercing glance and slid her hand up Tig's shirt sleeve. "I told Gemma I'd bring a crudite to Abel's coming home party tonight, would you come with me to the grocery store?" she asked Tig

"The fuck?!" he said, snorting and shaking his head "No."

"Let me rephrase that" she said, putting her hand on his hip "would you like to come drive with me to the grocery store?" He blinked at her, his expression unchanging. "You know...like in a car, with a whole door...ALONE"

The men in the bar hooted and hollered when Tig quickly took her hand and lead her out of the clubhouse, pinching her ass before they got out the door. When he saw her walk towards the driver side door of her Nova he quickly stepped in front of her and held out his hand.

She stopped dead in her tracks and looked at him bemused. "What?" she asked, shrugging

"Let me drive." he said firmly

"Oh that's really funny" she said pushing past him and shaking her head.

"No, c'mon I'm not letting you drive." he said, stepping in front of her again

"You're not letting me? You're not letting me drive my own car?" she smiled at him, crazy with amusement. He said nothing, realizing this was going to be a hard fight to win. "You're not going to let me drive the car my mother left to me?" she continued, her smile growing the more he shrank back from her. "The car my mother and father drove off in after their wedding."

"Did your father let your mother drive that time?" he asked sarcastically

She raised her eyebrows so high that they were in peril of disappearing into her hairline. "Ohhhh" she said, laughing bitterly, "You have a death wish." she hit him in the shoulder with her briefcase and returned her keys back into her purse. "We'll take the van." she said walking past him toward the black van "Let me drive" she mimicked him, "Yeah, let you drive my car…" she scoffed under her breath, "How about I just take your Dyna out when I'm getting my nails done. You must be out of your goddamn mind." She wrenched the passenger door open and climbed up into the seat of the van.

When he closed the door behind him he was laughing quietly. His laughter infected her and she started laughing too. They drove to the grocery store in utter amazement at how much they enjoyed eachother's company. Tig didn't want to talk about the hit on Opie and lose their laughter that still hung in the air.

"So…" she began, turning to face him when they parked outside the grocery store "You gunna talk to me about it or not?"

"Yeah" he croaked, turning to her and rubbing his eyes with his hand. "I have to do it tonight, after the party."

"Jesus." Charlotte said, turning away from him. "How are you supposed to not get tagged for this if you just do it out in the open?"

"I'm gunna make it look like a gangbanger did it." he said, scratching the back of his head nervously. "Retaliation for what happened yesterday."

"Alex" she breathed, looking at him sadly

"You know what?" he said, pulling the keys out of the ignition. "I think I will come into the store with you. Do something normal on this fucking day."

"Going grocery shopping is not normal for you." Charlotte laughed, getting out of the van. "Just wait out here. It won't take long."

She returned less than ten minutes later with a premade crudite tray in her hand and got back into the van. "See" she beamed at him, "Painless."

"By the time we get back we should probably just head right to Jax's" Tig said, starting the van

"Okay" she nodded, "Should I ride with you?"

"Nah, you can't. I gotta ride alone."

"Right." she said, looking at her hands.

At the party it was great to see Gemma looking so happy with a bounce in her step as she catered to the people who had piled in Jax's living room.

"You are just so in your element." Charlotte said happily to her when they were alone together in the kitchen.

"This" Gemma said, wrapping her arm around Charlotte's shoulders, "this is what we work for."

Charlotte smiled and nodded before she left the kitchen, her hands laden with beers for the men sitting in the living room. When she passed Tig his beer he took it from her, got up off the couch and walked her over to a thin girl with big brown eyes and very dark features.

"Tara" he called to her, causing her to turn around. "This is Charlotte, she's new to Charming. Talk, make friends." he left them together and sat back down.

"Hi there" Charlotte said in her sweet accent, genuinely being friendly as she held out a hand for Tara to shake.

"Hi" she replied rather cooly, taking in Charlotte's appearance and looking at her as though she were wearing a costume. It was true that, dressed in her work clothes, she looked completely out of place in a room full of leather and denim bikers but she knew that - whatever she wore - this is where she fit in best.

"How do you know everybody?" she pressed a little

"I'm with Jax." Tara said defensively and walked away, chugging her beer.

"Ohhhh kay then." Charlotte said, walking back to Tig and falling onto his lap.

"How'd it go?" he asked jokingly

"That woman has a boot up her ass about something." she said, adjusting her blazer around her body and flipping her hair out of her face.

"Well" he said, laughing, "Thanks for playing nice." He pulled her toward him and kissed her cheek.

"I'm not going to ruin Gemma's party" she said, taking his beer from him and taking a sip.

Tig stood up quickly when he saw Donna, Opie and his kids walk through the front door and wrapped her hand in his - now sweating, one. He started leading her over to them but she dug her heels in discreetly.

"No, Tig" she hissed "I can't not with tonig-"

"You have to." he said, holding her arm, "Before tomorrow." She nodded at him sadly. "Hey Ope!"

"Hey Tig!" he said greeting him with a hug and a pat on the back. Charlotte held her hand out for Opie to shake but instead he pulled her into a brotherly side hug. When they parted Charlotte smoothed her hair away from her face with a flattered smile for him to think so familiarly of her. "This is my wife Donna." he said introducing her to Charlotte.

"Nice to meet you" Donna said genuinely, shaking Charlotte's hand

"You as well" Charlotte said, smiling back at her.

Donna asked her all about Alabama and her job as a social worker and they were just talking about Donna's job when Jax and his wife came in with a squirming bundle of blankets in their arms. After everyone had swarmed them to look down at the baby Tig pulled Charlotte onto his lap on the couch.

"Look at him." he said to her "He's cute, huh?"

"Yeah" Charlotte said, nodding and gazing at the baby in Clay's arms "He's like a little cream puff. You got any of those running around?" she asked him

"Two that I know of." he said, looking into his bottle and downing it.

"Oh yeah?" she asked, interestedly

"Yeah. Two girls, they're probably…" he looked at her and narrowed his eyes, "How old are you?"

"Twenty-seven." she said

"Okay, so they're probably around...your age." he said in disbelief

"Thank god for daddy issues, right Tigger?" Bobby chuckled

"Cheers to that!" Chibs said, clinking his beer bottle against Bobby's

Luckily for Bobby and Chibs Gemma had come over with the baby and placed it in her arms. "Uh!" Charlotte exclaimed, "Ummm. Here." she said, passing the baby to Tig and getting off his lap. She went into the kitchen to get them both new drinks.

"What, no aching womb?" Gemma asked, walking into the kitchen behind her.

"No ma'am, not quite yet." Charlotte replied, taking a swig from her beer.

"Good!" she said perkily, "Because between you and me, Tig is not ready to become a daddy anytime soon. I'm not sure he was ready the first two times."

Charlotte followed her back out into the living room just in time to see Tara slamming the front door on her way out.

"I do not like that girl." Charlotte said under her breath before walking back over to Tig, leaving Gemma to smile at her as she did. She had just handed Tig his whiskey and coke when Opie and Donna began saying their goodbyes.

Tig made eye contact with Clay over Charlotte's shoulder and downed the drink she had brought him then stood up. Charlotte took his hand gently and followed him to the door. Before he followed them out she pulled his face to hers and kissed him briefly. "Hey Tig. I…" she blinked and changed course before she finished her sentence. "I'll see you back at the club" He nodded and swallowed and then was out the door.

When she turned back around to face everyone she locked eyes with Clay who was staring at her suspiciously then back down at her feet.

Chibs walked over to her with the baby in his arms and said, "I'll get you to hold this little bugger yet."

"No, no" she said laughing nervously "That is not my baby to break." Several people around her laughed.

"Aw c'mon you're not gunna hurt him." he scoffed and slowly transferred the baby to her arms. "Now just support the head and - that's it - you're doing beautifully!"

"Oh kaaay" she said moving her arms up and down gently. She did this for a while before saying, "Yeahhh I'm not the worst person in the world at this. This is okay. Are you okay Able?" he looked up at her with his bright blue eyes. "Yeah, we're okay." She looked up at Chibs and Gemma and pulled a nervous smile across her face. Gemma smirked lovingly and went over to Charlotte to relieve her of the baby. "There you go" Charlotte said, turning to Chibs, "now I've held it." They both laughed.

Next thing she knew Clay's cell phone was ringing and the men were running out the door to go see about a shooting tip Unser had just called to tell Clay about.

"Oh God" Gemma said softly as she watched them run out the door.

"I'll wait here with you for news." Charlotte said and started picking up the plastic cups, empty bottles and plates that were scattered around with the help of Wendy.

She was in the kitchen cleaning some pans when Gemma, having just gotten off the phone, walked in and said. "It was Donna."

"What?!" Charlotte and Wendy said in unison

"It was Donna who got shot."

Charlotte sank into one of the kitchen chairs and held her stomach; her throat constricting when she realized what happened. The house was filled with the palpable silence of grief until they heard Jax's keys in the front door. At this Charlotte collected her things and rushed the leave the house. Before she left she squeezed Gemma's hand and pat Jax on the forearm while there were talking in the hallway as a form of farewell before she closed the door behind her and bolted to her car.

Her tires squealed to a stop when she pulled into the lot at Teller & Morrow. Once in the clubhouse, she ran past Chibs and Juice who were drowning their sorrows without so much as a look at one another. She turned sideways to enter through the, uselessly, closed half door that still hung on it's hinges. Tig wasn't in his room but she followed the light that was on in his bathroom and turned just in time to see him smashing his head into his mirror for what appeared to be the fourth or fifth time. She put her hand on his shoulder and eased him to sit down on the toilet. When she went to get the glass out of the gash in his head he pushed her away from him.

"Leave it" he growled, not looking at her as she stumbled slightly.

After regaining her balance she kicked her heels off at his feet and knelt down in front of him, bringing the first aid kit onto her lap. "No." she replied firmly, turning his head down to face her. "I'll clean it with alcohol if you want to be in pain but I AM cleaning it." And so she did. When she was nearly sure all the glass was out she knelt Tig's head over the sink and poured a generous amount of isopropyl alcohol into the cut on his head. His body jerked and his face turned red as he let himself experience the burning.

Charlotte put a small strip over the wound then led Tig to the bed and helped him undress, taking his kutte off and folding it gently before putting it on the desk next to the door the pulled the rest of his shirts off over his head; saying nothing. She went around to the other side of the bed while he took his own pants off and let her dress fall to the floor before getting in bed next to him. She looked at his despondent face for a while, stroking his cheek, before reaching across him and turning off the light.