Back again. :) Keep the kind words coming, loves; they're much appreciated.

i understand that you are going through a hard time
but what you need to recognize i'm in one too
you say that maybe we should take some time apart
but you go your way, i'll get by, and you'll go get high
you just see if i mind
Better Than Ezra, "Get You In"

Next morning the ringing phone woke her, and Olivia turned toward it with a growl of annoyance. Opie had slipped out early, off on some club business, and she'd been enjoying her sleep. Especially after her long day and late night yesterday.

She checked the Caller ID and her scowl changed to a grin. Tara. "Hey, babe," she said. "How're things?"

"Welcome back, bitch. Thanks for calling."

"Sorry. I've been…well. When are you on today? Wanna get together?"

"I'm actually on my way to your place right now. I just wanted to make sure you were awake before I let myself in."

"Nice. I'm in bed. Just come on back."

They said their goodbyes, and Olivia dozed off between hanging up and the feel of the bed sinking under Tara's weight.

"Good morning, sunshine," she said. She wrapped herself around Olivia and squeezed, and Olivia made a sleepy noise of protest.

"You are way too chipper for this early in the day," she said.

"Poor kid. Jet lag?"

She flipped onto her side facing Tara and smothered a yawn. "Uh huh. Jet lag combined with traveling all day yesterday, and then…" She bit her lip around a grin and Tara lifted a brow.

"And then what? Did you finally get laid?"

"Sort of. There were orgasms. Many. Many. Orgasms. But no penis ever got involved."

Tara smirked. "So just you and your vibrator, huh? Another Tuesday night at Chez Gable," she said, her voice teasing.

Olivia stuck her tongue out at her. "More like me and my very large biker lover who really knows how to use his damn mouth."

"Oh my God, Ollie. Just because you're getting laid now doesn't mean you have to be a smug bitch about it."

"I'm not!" she said with a squeak of dismay

Tara let out a long sigh and fell back against the pillow. "I could use some of that right about now."

"Teller not puttin' out?"

"Olivia, please. Jax and I are only barely speaking. I can just imagine: hey, Jax, if you're not busy, I could really use some oral sex. Tonight work for you?" She snorted and waved a hand while Olivia smothered a laugh.

"He'd probably come in his pants. He's so used to crow eaters these days, you know? I bet he's just dying to get back with a woman who's not afraid to call the shots."

Tara gave her the gimlet eye, and Olivia lifted a hand in surrender.

"Have you at least talked to him?"

"A little," she said, "but it wasn't, like, scintillating conversation."

"Hhmm. Okay! I have an idea that might cheer you up."

"Unless it involves cupcakes, I'm not sure it's gonna do the trick."

"You read my mind. That new bakery that opened downtown? The cupcake place."

"It's an idea," Tara said. She frowned. "I guess the owner brought a bunch by TM the other day."

"Yeah, Opie hasn't stopped talking it. There were banana pudding cupcakes?"

"And German chocolate."

"Créme de menthe. It sounded pretty wild."

Tara rolled onto her tummy and propped her chin on her hand. "It sucks that businesses have to cater to the MC like that."

"I don't know," Olivia said. "Maybe it was just one small business owner reaching out to another."

"Okay, Pollyanna," Tara said with a snort. "SAMCRO's had this town by the balls since we were in utero. I don't think anything's changed since then."

"Mmm," Olivia said in mild agreement. "Well. At least they got free cupcakes out of it." Suddenly she giggled, and Tara eyed her. "I'm just thinking of all those hard-boiled bikers in their leather tryin' to be all badass while eating cupcakes."

Tara laughed. "Happy. Eating a cupcake."

"Opie shoving the whole thing in his mouth at one go and then getting icing in his beard."

"Chibs trying to pretend he doesn't want one while sneaking a bunch into his locker."

By that time they were both snickering, and they could feel the beginnings of a full-on giggle fit. "Happy eating a cupcake!" Olivia said again, and they fell against each other, totally lost.

The ringing phone started to bring them back, and Olivia groped for it as Tara wrapped an arm around her middle and tried to catch her breath.

"It's Ope," Olivia said.

"Here." Tara gestured for it. "Give it to me."

Olivia gave her an odd look but handed it over, and Tara was still panting when she answered. "Hi, Ope. Sorry, Ollie's kinda busy."

She hit the speaker button and caught him mid-sentence. "—out of breath?"

"Uhh…busy, Opie. Do I have to paint you a picture?"

Olivia's eyes went wide, and she clapped a hand to her mouth.

Tara's voice went even breathier, and she held the phone away a little. "Like that!" she gasped. "That's so good, Ollie!"

"What?"

"Don't stop! Don't stop!"

"Mmmm, Tara, you taste so yummy!" Olivia said, pitching her voice to be low and husky.

"Holy shit! What are you two doing?!"

They couldn't hold it any longer, and his desperate tone sent them both into hysterics again. Olivia groaned in pain from her aching abs and wiped tears off her cheeks while Tara buried her face in the pillow.

"Sorry, babe," Olivia said once she could speak again. "We're just fuckin' with you."

"Jesus Christ, Olivia, don't do that! That's not—it ain't—look, I got stuff goin' on here and I can't be thinkin' about—" He paused and huffed out a breath. "You both suck," he said, lamely.

Olivia made a low noise. "Not yet, but that's an option."

"Ollie!" he said. "I'm tryin' to work here."

"Okay, okay," she said, smacking Tara with the back of her hand as they both tried to get their giggles under control. "I'm sorry. Really."

"Uh huh," he said. Then, after a thoughtful moment, "You know, when we were kids me'n' Jax always wondered if you two did more than just make out that one time."

She and Tara shared a look. "We didn't," Olivia said. "But I hope imagining it gave you boys plenty to think about it."

"Uh huh," he said. "It sure did."

She rolled her eyes at Tara and took him off speaker. "What's up?" she said.

"Nothin'. Just checkin' in since you were asleep when I left this morning. I was missin' you."

"Already?" she said with a teasing grin.

"Yup. Already." There was a sound like a door closing, and things got quieter on his end. "Can I see you tonight?"

"Of course. I hope so. I want to see you."

His voice dropped even lower. "I miss the way you taste," he said.

She cut a look at Tara and smirked. "Already?" she said again, a quiet murmur.

"Mmhhmm," he said. Then, "Shit, I gotta go. I'll call you later, okay?"

"Sure thing. Hey. I love you."

"I love you too," he said, and she could hear the grin in his voice.

"Awwwww!" Tara said, loud enough for Opie to hear.

"Jesus," he muttered. "Tell Tara I said fuck off."

"Opie says he misses you, and you're like a human ray of sunshine."

Tara made kissing noises. "I love you too, you big lug."

"Goodbye, Tara!" he said. Then, quieter, "Bye, babe. Talk later."

She said her goodbyes and hung up, then smacked Tara across the head with a pillow.

"Ow!" she cried. "Bitch! Please, that was funny as hell!"

"Let's save the going down on your best friend in the middle of a phone call jokes for after Opie and I've been together longer than twenty-four hours."

Tara grinned and crossed her legs, her back propped against the headboard and the pillow in her lap. "I think he took it well, considering."

"He's known us all his life. He's wise to our tricks." A silence fell while Olivia studied her best friend. There were new lines on her forehead; around her mouth; and she held her head differently than Olivia had seen before.

Olivia knew the look, even if it were new to Tara: she was scared. Scared of Kohn. He'd found her in Charming but so far hadn't made a move, and at this point she probably wished he would.

"So. Real talk, Dr. Knowles: how are you?"

Her chin dropped and she picked at the pillowcase. "Not—super great. He keeps calling. He usually doesn't leave a message, but his number's private. He's the only private number that calls me."

Olivia tangled her fingers with Tara's and squeezed. "You need to tell Jax."

"Opie and Juice know, and as far as I'm concerned that's plenty of SAMCRO in my business."

"Jax is different, Tara. You know that. And Kohn's a Fed; don't you think the club would want to know if a Fed's sniffing around Charming?"

Tara slumped forward and scrubbed both hands over her face. "You know Jax's ex is pregnant?"

"Yeah," she said, quietly. "He told me a while ago."

"Why is this my life, Ollie? Back in Charming, on the run from a psycho, debating whether or not I should—"

"Get Jax involved," she said when Tara broke off. "Right? Not get involved with Jax, but get Jax involved."

"Right," Tara said on a breath.

"Tara Grace."

"Right!" she said again, more firmly.

Olivia sighed and ran a comforting hand up and down Tara's back. "I know it's tempting to go there again. Things are crazy and scary, and if nothing else at least he's familiar. The problems he comes with are familiar."

Tara cast a look over her shoulder. "Like you and Juice."

Olivia went still, and the only sign of her agitation was a slight tremble of her lower lip. "Yeah," she finally said, "like Juice and me."

Twisting toward her, Tara gave her face long, careful study. "But you don't still love him."

"I love Opie."

"I know you do, babe. That's not what I asked." Her voice was gentle but firm, and Olivia opened her mouth for the blithe lie: of course not don't be silly!

But nothing came out. Instead she just sat there, jaw hanging. She snapped it shut again and pressed a hand to her lips. "I love Opie," she finally said.

"Olivia! You're still in love with Juice!?"

"No! No. I don't even know Juice anymore. And we're both with other people!"

"And you love Opie."

"I do!"

Tara touched Olivia's knee. "I know, Oll. It's obvious to anyone who's known you longer than five seconds. I'm glad you two aren't trying to keep this a secret or anything." She paused and her eyes narrowed. "Does Opie know?"

Olivia's mouth quirked and her face softened. "I think Opie knows more about how I feel than I do. We don't talk about Juice much, but yeah. I'm sure he knows."

"What will you do?" Tara said after a moment.

Surprised, Olivia's eyes snapped up to meet Tara's. "Do?" She blinked. "Nothing. Juice is my past. We've both moved on. He's the first person I ever loved, so of course there're some leftover feelings there. That's just life. There's no reason to fuck up something potentially amazing with Opie."

"Makes sense," Tara said. "So maybe quit bugging me about Jax; he's my past too."

"Okay," Olivia said, mildly.

Tara glared at her, and Olivia lifted her hands in surrender.

"I'm not arguing with you, Tara. I get why you don't want to be with Jax. I get why you don't want the club part of your life." A line appeared between her brows. "I don't particularly relish the club in my life, either."

"So you fall in love with the heir apparent's best friend."

"It wasn't exactly on purpose."

Tara brushed Olivia's hair off her face and offered a reassuring smile. "We're badass bitches, Olivia Jameson. If anyone can take what these men are throwin' our way, it's us."

"That means Kohn too. You know that, right?"

Her mouth went tense and the smile faded. "I know," she said, but she sounded far less sure than before.

Olivia pulled her close and pressed a kiss on her forehead. "I'm gonna hit the shower, then we'll grab some lunch and go for cupcakes. Okay?"

"Yeah," she said. "I'm not on till four, so that sounds perfect."

"Cool," she said as she hopped out of bed. "Hang out here. Take a nap if you want. Mi casa and all that."

The bathroom door closed behind her and Tara curled up around the pillow she held. She didn't like lying to Olivia. Anyone, but Olivia most of all. But…she didn't want her to worry. Or go to Jax, which she might do if she thought the situation had gotten serious enough. Besides, it might not even've been him. There were a lot of…tall…gray-haired men in California. Right?

Except she knew it was. He'd been across the street, going into a bookstore, but Tara knew it was him. Now she felt the same knots in her stomach and frantic kick of her pulse she had that day, and she tried to steady her breathing.

It was fine. Okay, he was in Charming, but he hadn't made a move on her yet. Opie and Juice had been keeping an eye on her place as best they could, and now that Olivia was back in town, if she had to Tara could come crash at her place.

And intrude on the honeymoon phase she and Opie were bound to be in for the next…however long. They could always go to Opie's, and she knew neither of them would mind.

Tara was getting ahead of herself. Kohn hadn't made a move so far, and there was no guarantee he would. Maybe he was just checking in on her or something, and once he saw that she had a new life in Charming: house, job, friends; he'd get lost again.

She could hope, anyway.

After dropping Tara off to get her car, Olivia headed for TM. She needed Gemma to get her back on the schedule, and she wanted to surprise the guys. A grin curved her mouth as she thought of the two huge bakery boxes in the trunk. Bikers eating cupcakes. More incongruous things had happened, she was sure, but she couldn't think of any just then.

Her usual parking spot was empty, she saw with some surprise, and she pulled in and cut the engine. She'd had the music cranked, and at the sudden quiet she felt her shoulders relax. She still sat with her hands on the wheel and her eyes far away when there was a knock on the window.

"Olivia?"

She looked up and grinned. Sack. She motioned for him to step back and opened the door. "Hey," she said. "Sorry. Guess I zoned out a little."

"Yeah, no problem. Welcome back! Ope said the show was real awesome."

"It was," she said. "Glad to be home though." She tilted her head toward the trunk. "Think you could help me carry a few things?"

"Sure, no problem. Open 'er up." His eyes widened when he saw the bakery's stamp on the boxes. "Are these from that new place in town?"

"Yup. Heard they were a big hit the other day."

He made a face. "I wouldn't know. Prospect means bottom of the cupcake totem pole, I guess: the guys ate 'em all before I got one."

Olivia bit her lip around a smile and opened the top box. Grabbed a chocolate cupcake with chocolate icing and passed it to him, a finger pressed to her lips. "Don't tell. It'll be our little secret."

"Shit, Oll, you don't gotta do that! I was mostly kiddin' anyway."

She shrugged and stacked the boxes in his arms. "We gingers gotta stick together, right?"

A grin and a blush lit up his face. "I think it's actually more brown than red," he said, sheepishly.

"Ohhhh," she said. "Well give it back, then!" She reached for him, but he dodged a little.

"Nah, hey, it's good. It's good! Thanks, Ollie. I won't tell anybody; Tig'd probably steal it."

"Probably," she said over her shoulder. They headed toward the clubhouse, and Olivia tried to count the bikes without making it obvious. "Hey, um. Is Ope around?"

"Nah," Sack said. "A bunch of the guys had some shit to take care of. I think they'll be back soon." He paused. "Juice's here."

"That's nice," she said, mildly. She wasn't sure how much guys like Sack knew about the history between her and Juice (besides that they used to be a thing), and she wasn't really interested in having the club in her private life. She held the door open for him and followed him inside, then waved toward the bar. "Leave them there. I'm sure cupcake radar will activate soon enough."

As though summoned, Juice appeared from his computer nook. "Cupcakes?"

"Told you," she said.

"I gotta get back to work," Sack said, darting a look from Juice to Olivia and back again. "Thanks for the cupcake."

"Sure. Thanks for the help carrying them."

"Yeah, no problem." He gave Juice a nod and scurried out, and Olivia watched him go with an amused shake of his head.

"You guys really have the fear of God in that poor kid."

Juice hitched a shoulder. "I was the same way, and I knew everybody. It's a prospect's lot in life."

"Yeah," she said. "I guess so." They fell quiet, and she took a moment to study him. He looked the same. And why shouldn't he? It'd been less than two months. They were both seeing other people, and they hadn't spoken much, but he was still the same Juice.

"You look good," he said before she could. "Seems like New York suits you."

"Hhmm. I don't know about that—but thanks. How're things in ol' Charming town?"

He hitched a shoulder. "You know. Same as it ever was. We're all glad you're back, though."

Her mouth curved, briefly, but all she said was "Mmhhmm." She crossed behind the bar and made a big show of studying the beer fridge. "Want something to drink?"

"You really bought cupcakes?"

She pointed at the bakery boxes. "Knock yourself out."

She heard the sound of cardboard, then, around a mouthful of cake, "I think there's milk in that one over there."

Trying to muffle a laugh, she went searching for it. She grabbed a highball glass and poured some in before she passed it to him. "Pace yourself, Ortiz," she said with a grin. "It's heady stuff if you're not used to it."

He slid up on a stool and she propped her elbows on the bar. "You don't want one?" he said.

"Tara and I had some earlier. I'm cupcake-d out for the moment."

"Man," he said. He licked icing off his thumb and his eyes turned far away. "I can't imagine that. Cupcake-d out. I could eat cupcakes all day, I think. Hey, did they have any of the maple bacon ones?"

"Check the other box. I got a couple. Sounded like something you would like."

He snatched one before he was done with the banana pudding he was already eating. "This was real nice, Liv. Thanks."

She shrugged. "I was there. They looked good. Opie mentioned how much you guys enjoyed them the other day."

He took a sip of milk and cleared his throat. "How's that goin'? You and Ope?"

Her brow furrowed as she topped him off. "You really wanna know?"

"Well…" He ducked his head and slowly peeled the wrapper off his second cupcake. "I don't want details, but, I mean…I care that you're…happy and doin' good." His eyes flicked to her face. "You seem happy. Relaxed, I guess."

Maybe more relaxed than he'd seen her since she'd been back, but then around him she tended to be tense. He hadn't been lying when he said she looked good. That first glimpse had been a little like a punch to the gut, and he was glad Half-Sack had been here. How could he have forgotten in less than two months how beautiful she was?

He hadn't. He just…spent a lot of time choosing not to remember.

"Well. Since you asked. Things are fine. What things there are," she said, interrupting his train of thought. "I've barely been back a full day, though, so…" She lifted her hand in a shrug as she trailed off, but he wasn't fooled.

He really didn't want details, though, so he just nodded. "That's good," he said. He opened his mouth to say something else, but then changed his mind and went back to his cupcake.

She poured a small glass of milk for herself and sipped as she watched him. Her conversation with Tara echoed in her mind, and she…she wanted to forget. Forget how she'd once felt about him. Pretend she didn't feel anything more now than just nostalgia and tentative friendship.

"How's Yvonne?" she said, her tone too bright.

It seemed to catch him off guard, and for a moment he looked blank. Then he blinked and caught up. "Oh. She's great. You know. It's all…great."

"Good," she said. They both chose to ignore how he seemed to be trying harder to convince himself than her. New relationships were always tricky, and she was sure he and Yvonne were just in that awkward stage. They would settle in soon enough.

There was the sound of bikes in the lot, and they both looked that way.

"Guess they're back," Juice said.

"Better get what you want now, before the locusts descend."

For a split second he just stared at her. Get what he wanted? "Oh!" he said. "Yeah. I guess…another maple bacon for the road."

She smothered a laugh in her glass as she finished off her milk. "Smooth, Ortiz," she said, grinning.

"Bite me," he said.

"Hhmm. You wish."

The door opened, saving him from having to reply, and the loud, raucous sound of male laughter filled the clubhouse. Chibs finished a joke with a truly filthy punchline, and Tig clapped him hard on the back as they guffawed.

"Charming," Olivia murmured to Juice. "The wild biker in its natural habitat."

He gave her a half-smile, then watched her face transform. She wasn't looking at him anymore. Her eyes were trained on the door, and she'd gone from droll amusement to…big, shining eyes and brilliant grin, full-on dimples and everything.

His heart stopped, then kicked to life again, hard and stuttering. Jesus. She used to look at him just like that. He turned his head to follow her gaze and—Opie. Of course.

He let out a long breath. She could say anything she wanted: Juice could see the truth written on her face in flashing neon. She loved him. Like, really, genuinely loved him. He pressed the heel of his hand against his chest to try to rub away the ache there, but it was no good.

"I'll see ya later, Liv," he said, quietly.

"Hmm? Oh. Sure, Juice. Enjoy the cupcakes."

It was polite, distant. The way she might talk to an acquaintance. He slid off the stool and headed back to his cubby, and Tig stopped him on the way to try to steal his food. He dodged him and sent him toward the bar, and the guys greeted Olivia with varying degrees of enthusiasm and profanity.

The only voice Juice didn't hear was Opie's. He glanced back to see him leaning against the bar watching her as she talked to the guys. They were throwing questions at her—New York, the show, her flight—and shoving cupcakes into their mouths, but Opie just stood there. He didn't go for the bakery boxes and he didn't say anything.

Juice recognized the look on Opie's face as well as he'd recognized the one on Olivia's: Juice had seen it in the mirror countless times when they'd been together, a sort of stunned awe that she was his. With him. Of all the assholes on the planet, she'd chosen him.

His mouth twisted in a rueful smile. Well. He'd always said he just wanted her to be happy. If Opie could make her smile like that, and look at her the way he was now…then Juice figured she must've found it. Another chance. The chance he'd thrown away because she'd hurt his pride and he was a childish idiot.

Take care of her, brother, he thought as he turned away. She deserved it.

She deserved everything.

Poor Juicykins. I think he'll be okay tho.

Also upcoming chapters will feature a bit more to do with Tara, since she's dealing w the whole Kohn thing.

I think updates might be a little faster again? for some reason this chapter really stumped me. Then I ended up writing 3/4 of it in one sitting sooooo *shrug*