Big thanks to Bethie and Tiana for always reviewing each chapter, it means a lot you guys are still reviewing for me.

This is a pretty good chapter in my opinion, I think you'll all be pleased.

We are in Season two still, I think you'll all be able to tell which episodes everything takes place in. If I don't detail something straight from the epi its because I don't have a way for Aleah to be directly involved in it. I don't want to rewrite scenes from each episode, so I'm trying to show you what she's doing off the screen stuff.

Thanks and credits to Jessica1018 :D:D

Chapter 20 Love is Strange

Everyone was fighting with everyone. I stayed as far away from the garage, clubhouse, and Dad's place as I could get. Dad and Jax were at the point of screaming at each other in public places, Mom and Dad apparently weren't sleeping in the same bed for the past three weeks according to what she told me when I did finally have to go by the garage for a few hours of work on my usual Wednesday. Everything was falling apart.

Juice hadn't called, text, or came by in right at three weeks. It was like he'd decided to just go back to avoiding me again. Which only made me feel better about deciding to patch things up with Logan. And that was going pretty damn good. I spent most of my nights at his place now, just in case Juice actually did decide to show up so there wasn't another uncomfortable confrontation. Everything was just…. Going. Moving along. Except for Mom. I was starting to get worried about her. She was on the edge of sanity.

I slammed the file cabinet drawer shut shaking my head as Mom took off in the Escalade Dad bought her to appease the loss of her car, with Dad chasing after her, Tig chasing him. This place was turning into a three ring circus. I smirked seeing Juice and Chibs walking towards the office. The clowns were even here now. "Morning."

"Morning lovely." Chibs grinned at me getting himself a cup of coffee. "Any chance of some creamer around here?"

I shook my head moving another stack of files around to put away. This place was a mess, I was trying to get it cleaned up and organized before Jessica started this weekend. I couldn't work both jobs anymore, the hospital paid more than the garage did, and Jess needed to do something with herself so it worked out perfectly. "Nope. Opie used the rest of it before him and Sack went on the repo run out to the mill."

The Scotsman cursed going to the clubhouse with his steaming cup of coffee, leaving me alone awkwardly with Juice who was shuffling around nervously. I let my eyes sneak a peek at him when he looked out at the garage. He looked tired, like he hadn't been sleeping that well, his body was slightly thicker than it was before, but then again so was mine. I'd gained yet another pants size since I kicked the coke habit. Days like today were the hardest for me, the days I had a lot to get done and craved that energy boost.

"How've you been?" Juice finally asked toying with one of the heavy rings he wore.

I pulled open the top cabinet drawer, sliding in a few files. "Good. Just getting things picked up around here. Jess is taking over Saturday you know."

He frowned, little lines wrinkling his forehead. "I didn't know you were quitting."

"Yep. Jess needs the money, and I make more at the hospital. Dad said he'd still help me out with the car as long as I working somewhere and still going to school. And staying clean of course." I shoved the drawer shut, going for the bottom one next.

"You look good." he blurted out, sounding like he didn't mean to. "Like… you've always looked good but…. You look… better this way."

I wasn't sure if I should be offended of complimented. "I look better fat, wearing too tight clothes than skinny and wearing decent fitting ones?"

Juice rolled his eyes, giving me an aggravated look, his jaw tight. "No. You look… curvier. More….than a straight line."

I pushed my hair behind my ears, feeling very self conscious standing here in my jeans and Nirvana shirt suddenly. "Well thanks. You don't look so bad yourself."

"So… what are you doing tonight?"

The question shocked me, I wasn't expecting to be asked that after three weeks of no contact after sharing a bed for two weeks straight. I got my shock, getting my thoughts back together quickly. "Umm.. I'm going out on a date. With Logan."

His face soured instantly, irritation filled his eyes. "So you're quitting TM, going out on a date, and working 40hours in the nursery." He stated it more than asked.

"Is there something wrong with that?" I sighed not knowing where this talk was going to, or what he wanted out of it.

"Just wondering where I fit in." He whispered looked dejected now, wearing his kicked puppy face reminding me just how sweet of a man he really was underneath the tough guy act he tried to use.

I crossed my arms over myself, preparing to finally have it out with him. I was over the poor Juice act. "Where do you want to fit in? And what do you want from me?"

"I just thought…. Never mind. I gotta go get ready for tonight. We're having a wrap party at CaraCara. Have fun on your date." Juice turned and walked out, almost at a jog in his hurry to get away from me.

I frowned slamming the rest of the files down on the desktop. What in the hell was up with him?

Juice's POV

Partying at CaraCara was alright by me. The girls were hot, the liquor endless, and they were playing my kind of music. I sat down at the bar downing drinks with ease laughing it up with the blonde beside me. She was halfway in my lap, whispering in my ear. Half of it I couldn't even hear over the loud music and shrill laughs.

"Hittin 'em kinda hard aren't you?" Bobby asked coming to get his own refill. Only downside to this place was that there were no real crow eaters to wait on us.

"Nope. Not hard enough." I said back hitting my glass on the bar for another Jack and Coke. "I gotta say man, I love this business venture a lot more than our others."

I was a constant visitor at the studio, watching the filming, irritating Luann, checking out the girls, and using my favorite excuse of updating her servers. Hell we all loved it. Who didn't love pussy?

Bobby grabbed his beer bottle from the pretty redhead on the other side giving her a wink. "Gotta unwind from that crazy shit somehow. Find you a girl bro, take her home for the night. Get some sleep." He clapped me on the back, walking off.

Crazy shit seemed to happen everyday lately. Today's crazy shit was us beating the shit out of a dealer, then blowing up the cookers house before the party. Now we were partying like we were innocent porn producers. As far as finding a girl, the girl I had hoped to take home with me tonight had a date with her douche bag boyfriend. I groaned inwardly remembering the awkwardness of that conversation. I needed to get a grip over this shit. But every time I thought I was okay, all it took was a whiff of her shampoo and I was back to being a mess.

Jessica was here with Carter, or him with her, I wasn't sure who invited who to come party with porn stars this time. She fit in great if it wasn't for the obvious basketball under her shirt that he kept rubbing. Stupid whore I thought to myself knowing it was probably just the alcohol making me so moody. I stood up, bracing myself a little bit with the chair I'd been sitting on, deciding if I was ready to go yet or not.

"You leavin me handsome?" Blondie purred rubbing my chest through the thin cotton of my shirt.

"Mmmm…. I don't know." I looked down at her. She was alright, big tits, nice ass and okay face. I wanted brunette, decent sized tits, great ass, and beautiful face. "Maybe you…." I stopped talking seeing who Jessica was gushing to on the left of her and fought back a laugh. What in the hell was Aleah doing here? "Yeah I'm leavin you." I shoved her hands away going to see what I could stir up.

Aleah was way over dressed for the party. Too covered. But I liked that, it distinguished her from looking like a slut like the rest of the women here did besides Tara. She was rocking her hips a little with the music doing some kind of a little sway with Carter while Jess talked to Luann now. I couldn't help but grin at the sight of the huge Prospect dancing with her. I slipped through the throngs of people until I slid right between them, cutting in without asking. "I'm cutting in." I told Carter who just nodded knowing even if he objected, I was the patch here.

"You here to rattle me some more?" Aleah asked staring at me, not moving anymore.

She was angry with me, I realized feeling a sinking motion in my stomach that had nothing to do with the whiskey. "No. I was just coming to see how your date went." I flashed a grin at her trying to get her to at least smile at me a little bit. "Or is paper boy here with you?"

Aleah studied me harshly underneath her eyelashes, her body tense. "It was nice, thanks for asking. He went home, he's not feeling very well."

"You wanna…. Go talk?" I'd moved closer to her, close enough to feel her hair tickle my face when I leaned down to talk into her ear so no one could over hear us.

"I don't think so."

I sighed loudly, I could see Carter watching me, making sure I was being nice. "Look…. Just.. Come to the clubhouse for a while. Please?"

Aleah chewed on her bottom lip, appraising me before giving me a quick nod. "I'll follow you there. I drove my car over."

I'd take that. I probably shouldn't have a passenger anyways given my current state of drunkeness. I set my glass down on the tiny table, wanting to hurry before she changed her mind, and led her out of the warehouse. It was a short ride over to TM, even with me driving slower than normal just to make sure I didn't lay the bike down. It was completely empty too, meaning we had total privacy for the first time in way too long.

She didn't speak to me until I shut the door to my room, locking it behind me. "Are you… living here or something?" She kicked my duffle bag with her foot.

"Something." I smirked kicking off my boots and crashing down on the bed. "Come here."

Aleah eyed my warily before sitting down beside me, not laying like I wished she would have. "What did you want to talk about?"

"Why are you back with him?" I asked not able to stop myself. "I thought that was over a while back."

"We never broke up." She said softly shifting around to get comfortable, but still not touching me or showing any signs of laying with me like I really really wished she would. "I like him. I told you that last time."

I didn't like hearing that. My stomach twisted in knots as I digested her words. "Aleah….." it came out sounding like more a whine than a name. "Why are you being like this?"

"You're drunk Juice. Go to sleep." Aleah stood up the springs creaking underneath us. "You don't want me. You told me that, then you disappeared for almost a month after you…. We.." She shook her head. "I'm done playing games with you."

I shut my eyes, hearing her words roll through my ears. Accusing but not at the same time. "I'm not playing games."

"Yeah you are. I'm sorry about whatever's wrong with you but I'm not… cheating anymore on him by sleeping with you again. I'm sorry."

A knife slice through my chest, hearing that hurt me more than anything she'd ever said to me before. "Don't…. " I sighed sitting up again, the room spinning a little with the motion. "Don't be sorry for me. I just thought… you were done with him."

"Maybe I was. Until you ditched out on me again. The only thing you seem to be good at."

Wow. My girl had never been so cruel. "I didn't ditch out on you. I… shit Aleah… I don't…." I trailed off not even knowing how to express the millions of thoughts going through my Ritalin dependent brain at once.

Slowly, I touched her hair, her body froze, breathing slow deep breaths as my fingers brushed her cheek before I kissed her. I could still taste the vodka on her lips, cherry lip gloss, and man… the softness. She started to unravel bit by bit, leaning more and more into me while we kissed. Her lips were pushing on mine hungrily almost, like she'd missed mine just as much as I missed hers. I cupped her head holding her still, pushing my tongue against her mouth until she parted her lips letting me in.

I smiled a little when I felt her hands starting to grope my back, pressing on the muscles pushing me closer against her. I let my hands slide down from her hair to her shirt, pushing it over her head, then leaned back long enough to slip my own off. "Take your pants off." Aleah whispered pushing me back and lifting her hips to shimmy out of hers, kicking them to the side of the bed.

In a flash I was back on top of her, not wanting to waste a moment of this. This was way better than anything I had dreamed up in my intoxicated state of mind. I kissed her neck roughly, loving the way she tensed, pushing her hips against mine. "Fuckkk… Don't do that." I hissed knowing it wouldn't take much more than her grinding on me.

"Get a condom. Hurry."

That's all she had to say. I leaned over her grabbing a Trojan off the roll I kept in my nightstand for the rare occasion I wanted Mia to do something other than sleep with me. I rolled it on quickly, pushing into her hard. "Ohhh….. Oh.. My god…" Aleah whimpered her eyes closing when I started to thrust into her.

"God…. I missed this…" I muttered letting my eyes shut too, the pleasure from how tight she was taking me over.

I started to push her down into the mattress when her hands flew to my chest shoving me back. "Stop! Stop stop stop!" She shouted suddenly.

I jerked back letting go of her quickly. "What's wrong? I thought you wanted to?" She shoved me again, this time hard enough to push me out of her. "Shit…" I was in agony, leaned over with my hands on my knees. Aleah was rolling off of the bed like I'd tried to murder her.

A knock sounded on the opposite side of the door. "Everything ok in there?"

"Yeah Bobby. We're fine. Just…. We're fine.!" I yelled back studying the girl that was frantically straightening out her clothes, patting down her hair then grabbing her keys off my computer desk. "Wait… you're leaving? I'm sorry… I didn't mean to push anything."

"You're fine. Its me. I can't do this. I'm sorry Juice. I can't cheat on him like that." Aleah gave me a sad smile her hand on the door knob. "It'll get easier, I swear. I just… can't." Then she left me.

I sat there alone in my room for the longest time, long past the guys that stayed here coming and going to sleep before the blood drive run tomorrow. I wasn't going on it, I had to do some work on the CaraCara website memberships. I stayed awake with my bottle of Jack, drinking and thinking. Thinking and drinking. Was I that awful to her that she would freak out like that? Could I even fix this? Did she want me to fix this? Hell, did I want to fix it or was I just horny as fuck and lonely tonight?

I loved her. I loved her so much I couldn't even function anymore without being near her. I didn't want to do anything but drink to forget her now. Forget how bad I fucked up when I told her to see what else was out there. That kept haunting me every time I tried to talk to her about getting back together. Now she was with Logan the paper boy. I rubbed my hand over the coarse strip of hair I had, thinking some more. I didn't even notice when the sun came up, shining brightly in through my blinds, the guys roaring out of the parking lot with the Nomads, and a few Tacoma guys behind them.

Aleah's POV

I hurried up the stairs to the apartment my feet barely touching the stairs as I ran up them. The door was already unlocked when I turned the knob. "Jess?" I called out worriedly scanning the living room for her.

"We're in here!" Carter yelled to me from her room, down the hall.

I rushed inside, not even stopping to knock. "Are you okay?" I asked her my eyebrows scrunching together. "I'm so sorry!"

Jessica was laid back in her bed, a pillow propped up underneath her left foot that had a boot on it. She'd left me 6 voicemails this morning telling me she'd fallen down the stairs trying to take Gizmo outside when he'd tripped her and ran away. "I'm fine. Just a little banged up. Lee, I'm sorry about Giz."

She really did look sorry, like she wanted to cry. I sat down on the edge of her, holding her hand. "Its fine, really. He'll turn up soon. I was so worried about you and the baby."

Carter passed Jessica a glass of water and two pills his jaw held tight. "We all were. I got here as soon as I could but Oregon isn't exactly close."

I was confused. If Carter was with the MC, then who took Jess to the hospital?

"How'd you get to St. Thomas? Gemma?" I didn't think it was Mom, she hadn't answered her phone all day and no one could track her down. "Or your mom?"

"Juice took her." Carter spoke his voice sounded annoyed in a way I hadn't heard before. "He bitched the entire time but he took her. He was the only one that didn't go on the blood drive yesterday with us."

Wow. If Juice was taking Jessica to the hospital then he really was drinking as much as I suspected he was. "Seriously? Was he at least nice?" I asked Jessica rubbing her arm.

Jessica laughed, it sounded forced and didn't even come close to meeting her eyes. "If you call him belittling me every ten minutes being nice, then yeah."

"He's an ass." I assured her standing up from her neon pink blankets. "Do you need me to stay home with you tomorrow?"

"No. She's going to my place for a few days so I can keep an eye on her. She's on bedrest, but our daughters fine." Carter grinned, his mood changing in an instant.

It took a minute to hit me. "Oh! it's a girl!" I cheered grinning with him. "Congrats!" I knew a little girl was just what Jessica needed to finally be happy about the pregnancy she complained about.

"Yep. Doc told us today. Well, told Juice and Jessica." Carter smirked down at Jessica who rolled her eyes at him. "Guess Juice corrected that fast."

I grinned, picturing the two of them getting an ultrasound done together. It just showed how loyal Juice could be to his brothers that he'd take Jessica to the ER and stay. "Can't imagine why. Logan said to tell you he was gonna come up but he needed to get back before it was late. Guess he has court in the morning."

Carter motioned for me to follow him out of the room. Jessica had started to doze off already, she did look exhausted. "Look, I just want to give you a heads up… I'm gonna try getting her to move in move with me. I just think it'd be easier for all of us." He ruffled his dark hair sighing. "I don't like her being here alone during the day. At my place, my parents are next door if something like this happens."

I nodded, understanding what he was getting at. Jess would never go for it though, she was too independent for that. "Okay… I don't mind helping Carter. You both know that." I told him with a small smile. "But if she wants to move, then I'll figure something out. Maybe go back home to Dad's for a while."

"Yeah, well I just wanted to let you know. Didn't know if Logan had talked to you about moving over there yet."

"Did he mention it to you?" I asked curiously wondering when the two of them had time to talk about me.

Carter looked sheepish, which was comical because of big he was. "Kind of. I think he's wanting things to work with you two. Bad. I haven't told him about…" He trailed off but we both knew what he was talking about. He hadn't ratted me out about sleeping with Juice.

"I guess we'll see after you talk to Jess. I'm gonna go look for Gizmo, see if he's turned up yet." I grabbed my jacket, pulling it on before I walked out of the door.

"He'll come back." Carter said in a reassuring voice watching me leave.

I walked up and down the streets searching for my lost little dog. I called his name over and over, peeking into every alley I came across. I prayed no one had ran him over while Jess was gone. I couldn't lose my fur baby. I loved him like crazy, he was my number one. I trudged along, my shoulders slumped down after two hours of searching in vain. An older Bronco cruised behind me slowly, making the hair on my arms stand up.

"Excuse me, Mam?" A man called out, he'd stopped on the curb and was halfway out of the vehicle.

I glanced at him, my fingers curling around my cell phone ready to call for help. "Yes?"

"I was just looking for Riverside Dr?" He asked, he looked vaguely familiar. Older guy, cropped hair with gray streaked through it and dressed like a dork in a button down tucked into khakis.

"Its two blocks to your left." I advised starting to walk again, glancing behind me trying not to show just how nervous I was.

He didn't follow me, but I could feel his eyes on me the entire time I walked up to the apartment. I started up the stairs looking down again, feeling relieved when I saw he was finally gone. Creep.

I was ready to get home, take a long hot shower and go to bed. I'd just got done rubbing elbows with the most boring people I'd ever met in my entire life. Logan's family. They were old money and very judgmental when they found out exactly who I was. It was all I could do to bite my tongue for the rest of dinner. So when Logan had started his normal routine of biting my bottom lip and ears, he got turned down.

I let myself in, frowning at the emptiness of the apartment without Jess or Gizmo here anymore. She'd only been gone for a day but it felt like forever and I didn't like being alone in this place. Juice had been right, it was creepy and a bad neighborhood. I locked the door behind me taking off to hop in the shower. I undressed slowly, humming the melody of a my favorite sappy song. I'd just leaned over to turn the water on when I heard a distinct metal on metal noise and froze. I grabbed my phone from the sink counter, listening hard without going outside of the bathroom.

"She's in here. I saw her come in." A man's voice said. I could hear crashing and busting glass.

Oh my god… someone broke in. I pushed the bathroom door shut, locking it while I looked frantically for something to protect myself with. I grabbed the only thing I could see using as a weapon, the plunger of course, and hid behind the shower curtain. My heart thudded in my chest as I dialed the only person's number I knew I could count on to be here in a matter of minutes.

"Daddy? Someone's in the apartment." I whispered the minute he picked up.

"On my way."

I hung up the phone, my nerves were making me shaky as I could hear the men getting closer to my hiding spot. I crouched down trying to take deep, slow breaths. "She's in here!" Someone yelled then it sounded like they were trying to kick the bathroom door in.

I fought back the scream that threatened to escape my throat, and grabbed the robe to throw on, I wasn't going to make it easy on these assholes to get what they wanted. The wood crashed in, two masked men coming through the busted door frame. "What do you think you're gonna do with that darlin?" One of them asked laughing.

"Get out of here! I already called the police! They're on the way!" I screamed waving my weapon at them crazily smacking one of them in the head.

"Grab her!"

I jumped back, slamming my head into the shower stall hard. "Fuck!" I yelled out touching my head then slapping at the man that was fighting to get my robe opened "Let me go!" I kicked like crazy until I finally get one in the balls.

"Forget it. He said scare her a little."

I felt the first man's hand come down on the side my face hard and cried out when he did it again. "Tell your Dad consider this a warning, he's lucky we don't do the same thing to you like we did that bitch mother of yours." With that he gave me four hard kicks to my sides.

I felt the blood dripping from my nose and crumpled in the bathtub, tears and snot running in a mix down my face with it. I stayed in that spot, waiting for Dad to get there. Minutes went by fast until he rushed through the bathroom door, a Glock in his hand. "Aleah? Baby?!" He yelled just before he saw me. "I found her!"

I moved towards him, wrapping my arms around him like I hadn't since I was a little girl and sobbed into his cut not even caring about how dirty I was getting it. "Aleah, talk to me princess." He rocked me against him.

"They….. They…." I just shook my head crying some more realizing how lucky I was that they'd stopped when they did.

"Jesus Christ." I heard Jax say coming into the bathroom. "They didn't?"

"I don't know. She hasn't spoke." Dad answered him lifting me into his arms. "Come on baby."

Jax was talking to someone, giving them orders quietly, I ignored him until I heard him say. "Juice, see if she'll talk to you man."

I was shifted into another pair of arms, these ones weren't as broad, but they were familiar. I wrapped my arms around his neck tightly starting to cry all over again. "They were going to…."

"Shhhh… I know. I know, but they didn't? "

I shook my head into his chest taking deep breaths in to calm myself. My body hurt, my face was starting to bruise and swell I could feel it. "No." I whispered the tears slowing down. "I don't know who they were."

"What'd they look like?" Jax asked me in a careful manner touching my forehead lightly with his glove covered hand.

"Holy shit….." Carter's loud voice boomed, he stepped through the broken front door gingerly, leading Jessica. She was pale faced and looked like she wanted to cry with me. "What in the hell happened?"

Jax brushed my hair back from my eyes, giving me a look of pity. "I'm gonna get Jessica to help you get dressed ok?"

Juice shook his head, tightening his hold on me. "No, I got it. I'll be back in a minute with her."

I didn't argue with him. I let Juice pull a shirt over my head then tug up a pair of track pants. He paused, kissed me on the forehead and pulled me to his chest hugging me hard and tight. "God… I was so scared Lee. I thought…"

I hugged him back, fighting the tears that were straining behind my eyes. He kissed my forehead again before pulling me into the living room where everyone was waiting for us. "They left this nailed to the door." Bobby tossed a white mask like the ones the men had been wearing down on the couch.

"They were wearing those." I spoke shocking them all. Juice hovered behind me like a body guard. "There were two of them. I couldn't see faces. I'm sorry."

"Its not your fault Lee." Jax told me with a shake of his head. "Did they say anything? Anything you can remember?"

I thought hard, trying to replay the horrendous events in my mind. "They said to tell my Dad that this was a warning." I left out the part about Mom, not wanting to spill that secret to a room full of already angry bikers.

Tig came in, kicking wood out of his way. "The manager said the security cameras don't record. They got nothing."

"What kind of shit hole did you move into that didn't have any security?" Bobby asked out loud.

"The whore picked the place out. Not Aleah." Juice popped off throwing Jessica a death glare. "Where in the hell were you at anyways? isn't it convenient she was alone tonight when they decided to attack?"

"I was with Carter. I didn't know I needed to clear my schedule with you, you prick." Jessica snapped in her defense dropping the glass she'd been cleaning up.

I stayed quiet, keeping out of it. My sides were killing me, there was no way I could go to the hospital like that. Too many questions from people that would recognize me. I focused on the mess the men had made, but not for long. The arguing got out of hand quickly.

Juice scoffed, his face drawn up into a sneer. "Shut up. This is your fault. Stupid slut."

Carter snapped in a way I didn't know he could. He drew all 6 foot 3 inches of his height up against Juice, the veins in his neck popping out. "Look, I'm sick and tired of you talking to her like a piece of shit. You need to shut your fucking mouth now Juice."

"Or what? What you gonna do about it Prospect?" Juice got back in Carter's face, the menacing Juice coming out reminding me of why he was a Son. "Your whore has you so twisted you can't see past anything except her pussy."

"Who's the whore? You're the one fucking every crow eater that walks through the door then you come over here and fuck my best friends girl when you're done. Shut the fuck up while you're ahead."

They were nose to nose right now, eyes hard and looking like they were about to tear into each other at any second. I couldn't believe Carter would out me like that. Expose my dirty laundry for an entire club of people. I hoped Juice would hit him now. I could see Tig, Bobby, Jax, and Dad all looking at me now. I was in too much pain to be embarrassed.

"Its about time someone put him in his place. He thinks he can say or do anything he wants." Jessica cut in looking slightly gleeful at the fight happening. I felt bad for her, she didn't know Carter would be the one to suffer here. Size didn't mean anything to these guys.

Juice pushed himself against Carter, his hands clenched into two fists. "Better back down Prospect. Before you lose that rocker for good. And remember who your loyal to first, its not anyone's business who I'm fuckin."

"Hey. I don't want to hear about anyone fuckin my daughter." Dad said sounding irritated and tired. "Carter, you can figure out how to clean this shit up. And then you can patrol around my house because I'm taking my daughter home with me where she'll be safe."

"All the fuckin that's goin on… makes me think I'm hangin with the wrong crowd." Tig cracked with a grin.

"No. She can come home with me." Juice told him, calming down some when Carter took a step back from him. Bobby had pushed a hand on Carter's chest, breaking them up. "Aleah, get your stuff."

I looked from Dad to Juice like I was asking permission. Dad just nodded and pointed at my room. I hurriedly packed clothes, make up, phone charger and anything else I needed for a few days. My face was throbbing like hell. "Come on. Let's get out of here."

Jax followed us out, staying on our heels the entire walk down the stairs. "Juice, make sure you do something about her face bro. Tara can help if she needs it."

"I'll be okay." I told Jax softly, knowing the hits I'd taken weren't anything I needed stitched. I'd just have one hell of a set of black eyes for a few days along with my broken nose. "Thanks for coming big bro."

Jax pulled into a tight hug, ruffling my hair like he did when I was a kid and he was an angry teenager. "Anytime. You call if you need us ok? We'll get the place picked back up. Tell Juice if anything you can remember comes back to you."

I nodded knowing I didn't exactly have much for them to go on. A mask didn't really help pin point anything on anyone. "I will." I promised climbing into the passenger side of my car.

"I'll get Half Sack to take your bike over to TM in the morning." Jax told Juice watching him put my bag in the backseat. "Take care of her." They did their man hug then Juice got in, driving us past his house. I sat up a little straighter, confused.

"Juice you just passed your house."

He shook his head, making a right like he was going into SAMCRO corner. "I moved a couple of months ago." He explained glancing over at me in the darkness. "I guess I never got around to mentioning it."

How in the hell do you move and not tell someone you're supposed to be so in love with? I wondered to myself. My eyes widened a little bit when he pulled my car into the driveway of a split level house. Much larger than the one he'd been living in before. I climbed out of the car, checking the house out while we walked up the stone walkway. It had a nice, well kept yard complete with flower beds. Little solar lamps lining out where to step. And a Harley logo doormat. Juice unlocked the door, he was carrying my bag for me. "Its not much." He hesitated before letting me see past him.

It was nice in the inside. Wooden floors that he'd spread huge area rugs over, the same couches he'd had in the other house, same 60' TV and entertainment center with his XBOX on pause on the screen. The posters I'd given him for Christmas were hanging on the walls as decoration with a few other he must have picked himself. "Its nice. Really." I yawned a little tired, and ready to clean the dried blood from my face.

"Come on. I'll help you clean that up." Juice led me down a long hallway, with four doors that were all shut. He stopped in front of one, pushing it open to show me it was his room.

His room looked more adult than the last one did. He had nicer furniture in this one, lamps on each nightstand, and matching curtains hanging from the windows. I could see a bathroom off to the side. He tossed my bag down on the floor in front of the open closet, then grabbed my hand to pull me into the bathroom. "Sit down.." He ordered digging through the medicine cabinet.

I couldn't help but think how surreal this was. I was always the one cleaning his face up after being hit, now he was wiping mine gently with alcohol and cotton balls. "Owww." I winced when he pressed a wet cloth to my nose, wiping the blood away.

"I'm sorry." He sounded like he meant. I watched his face, his brown eyes were worried while he finished up cleaning my wounds. "You want me to help you get in the shower or something?"

I shook my head, not feeling up to it. I needed this night to end. "In the morning. I just want to lay down."

"Take the bed. I'll sleep on the couch." Juice stood throwing the cotton balls away, tossing the cloth into a hamper against the wall. The bathroom was a master version. Shower stall in the corner, huge garden tub in the center. Fake plants surrounding it, I didn't know who decorated, but they'd done a pretty good job. "We'll figure something else out after tonight….. If you want to stay here. I didn't mean to jump in like that earlier, I just figured you'd rather be here than over there with them fighting."

I averted my eyes to look at the framed picture of some sort of shark he had hanging above the toilet. "Thanks for bringing me with you." I swallowed hard fighting back the tears that were forming, remembering again what had happened to me. "I don't want to go back to that apartment."

He nodded, folding his arms over his chest. "You feelin ok? Or need to talk about it?"

"No. I'm fine." I forced a smile, wiping underneath my eyes walking back into the bedroom area. I wanted to ask if the sheets were clean but something told me that might start another fight. I pulled the comforter back. "Goodnight Juice."

"Night Lee." He waited for me to crawl between the cool sheets before disappearing to his living room.

I laid there a while, sniffling into the pillow. Tell your Dad this a warning, be happy we didn't do the same thing to you as your whore Mom. replayed over and over in my mind. I needed to tell Mom about this first thing in the morning, tonight there were too many eyes and ears to get a private conversation in. Bad stuff happened to the MC, to Mom, to Tara, but this was the first time I'd ever been targeted. I hadn't even been questioned by ATF a few months ago with the other women, I didn't think anything about that though, because neither had Mom. She'd said it was because they knew we'd never tell them anything. But someone evidently thought I was a weak link.

I heard a tap tap tap sound and clutched the comforter in my hands, listening. What if they were coming back? What if they'd followed me here? I sat up straight, terrified. I braced myself, making the decision fast before I sprung from the bed running down the hallway hoping Juice didn't have anything I could trip over. The glow of the TV showed me the clear path to him once I rounded the corner. He was stretched out over the couch, a throw pillow stuffed behind his head watching a movie. "Juice?"

Juice twitched sitting up slowly, showing me he'd been dozing in and out. "You okay? You need something?" He asked his voice thick with sleep.

"Can you sleep with me?" I asked feeling childish suddenly. I should have been brave enough to stay alone. But I wasn't.

He stood up from the couch, the blanket he'd been using fell to the ground in a pile. "Yeah. If that's what you want."

"Please. I'd just… feel better if I wasn't alone." I padded back down the hallway with him climbing into the cloud like bed. It was way softer than the one he'd had before.

Juice slid in beside me, keeping a little bit of space between us. "You want me to get a different blanket?"

"No, you don't have to get another blanket." I sighed daring to roll closer to him. I could already feel his body heat. "I'm sorry you know… about stopping in the middle of sex. I guess we can't get it right."

"Its fine. I'm just glad you're not hurt." He said softly reaching out to find my hand. He slid his fingers through mine easily. "I was drunk. I shouldn't have came on to you like that anyways."

I pushed my feet in between his legs, warming them up. I'd been cold since I got attacked. A side effect of shock. "Well, I shouldn't have let it go that far. I was sober."

"You took advantage of me." I could hear the grin in his voice.

"I don't think its possible to take advantage of you. According to Carter you're fucking everything."

He laughed, it was a low quiet laugh. "Carter has a good imagination. I've only slept with one woman since we made out over a month ago. And trust me, its not every night."

I digested that information. I didn't think he was going without sex. That wasn't a Juice trait, he liked sex, and he liked it a lot. "Thanks for the info."

"Just being honest…."

"While you're being honest…. Why don't you tell me what you want from me?" I whispered without thinking. I wasn't sorry I'd let the words slip out. "What do you want this to be Juice?"

Juice didn't answer for a while. When he did, he rolled onto his side to see me in the dark. "I want to be with you. And only you. I want to be that guy that's taking you out around town, showing you off, making you smile. I love you, a lot. But I don't know how to be with you."

I rolled onto my side, ignoring the pain it caused, facing him now too. "I want to be with you Juice. But you have to let me. I can't be your friend. I tried. We end up doing things friends shouldn't, and caring like friends don't. I don't know how to be with you either, but I think we can figure it out. I love you, enough to admit we made mistakes before. But its different now."

Juice's mouth was on mine when I was done. He kissed me softly, just barely moving his lips in motion against mine. "Then be with me. Leave him for me. Do it. Please. I'll let you this time. I won't run from it. Be with me."

I didn't even think on it. I slid my hands behind his head kissing him more passionately parting only to whisper. "Together."